Washington County drivers, including everyone in Tigard and Tualatin, will pay $60 a year to register their vehicles by 2032 after the Board of Commissioners adopted a phased fee increase on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

The board approved Ordinance No. 917 at its evening meeting in Hillsboro, locking in three $10 jumps over five years. The first increase hits in fiscal year 2027-28, raising the fee from $30 to $40. '

A second bump to $50 follows in FY 2029-30, and the fee reaches $60 in FY 2031-32 and stays there unless commissioners vote again.

The revenue is split 60/40 between the county and cities. Cities receive their share based on population, meaning Tigard and Tualatin stand to gain as the fee climbs. At the full $60 rate, cities countywide would split approximately $13.75 million a year, up from about $6.9 million at the current rate, according to the county's agenda materials.

The county's share would rise from $10.3 million to $20.6 million. All VRF dollars are constitutionally restricted to road and transportation uses, including bicycle and pedestrian improvements.

The fee hike is necessary.

That was the message from LUT Director Stephen Roberts and policy analyst Jessica Pelz, who told commissioners that General Fund transfers to the Major Streets Transportation Improvement Program fell 17% in FY 2025-26 alone and that construction costs have risen as much as 30% per year since 2021. In January 2024, the board authorized bonds to cover a $90 million MSTIP funding gap.

Commissioners Jason Snider and Pam Treece led outreach between February and April 2026, briefing mayors of 10 county cities and presenting to four city councils.

Residents and officials raised affordability concerns for low-income and senior drivers, but state law does not currently allow a discount for those groups. Individual vote tallies from the Aug. 25 meeting were not yet available in public records.

The board also adopted Ordinance No. 915 at the same meeting, amending the comprehensive framework plan, transportation system plan and community plans for nine areas including Bull Mountain, Metzger-Progress and Aloha-Reedville-Cooper Mountain.

The amendments relate to community involvement in the planning process, though the full text was not publicly available as of Wednesday, Aug. 26.

The board's next regular meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 1, at approximately 10:40 a.m. at the Charles D. Cameron Public Services Building, 155 N. First Ave., Hillsboro.