PORTLAND, Ore. — A new proposal to increase health inspection fees for food, pool and tourist services will go before the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on Thursday.

The Department of Health says the current fees are not enough to support the staff and resources they need.

The department’s proposal includes four consecutive years of fee increases, a 6% increase for the 2024 fiscal year, followed by 8% increases in 2025, 2026 and 2027.

This would affect businesses like restaurants, food trucks and bed and breakfasts.

Several organizations representing businesses in the county oppose the proposal.

One of them, the Portland Metro Chamber, says this could deal a big blow to small businesses who are already struggling.

“There are a lot of challenges in our community. People are spending more on private security than they should on fixing windows and fixing vandalism — graffiti that is happening way too often,” said Andrew Hoan, president and CEO of Portland Metro Chamber. “So on top of these hidden taxes we’re getting a significant tax increase on the sector of our business community that can least afford it.”

A letter written by those business organizations to the county commission also expressed concern over a lack of community outreach and discussion with business owners about the fee proposal and encourages the board to reject the proposal.

KATU has reached out to the Health Department about these concerns.