Portland has told Multnomah County’s Vector Control team to pack up and leave its longtime home at the Columbia Boulevard wastewater complex, a shakeup county leaders say could cost taxpayers millions and tangle mosquito and rodent control efforts right as summer ramps up. The move would force the county to secure new land along with lab and storage space at the exact time surveillance and larval treatment work typically spikes in warmer months. Early internal figures peg land acquisition alone at about $14 million, not including build-out or ongoing operating costs.
City Notice Comes With Multi-million Price Tag
As reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive, the city originally gave the county a June 30, 2026 deadline to move out, then later floated an extension to December 31, 2026 or even into the first quarter of 2027. According to that reporting, Portland has agreed to chip in about $6 million toward relocation, while holding onto a contractual right to reclaim the building with six months’ notice. County officials say those terms have kicked off a frantic search for a site that can handle the program’s lab, vehicle fleet and field supplies.
What Multnomah County’s Vector Team Handles
Based in North Portland, Multnomah County’s Vector Control program runs mosquito trapping and lab testing, distributes mosquitofish for ornamental ponds, applies BTI larvicides in wetlands and responds to rat complaints. All of that depends on nearby wetlands, storage and lab facilities. According to Multnomah County, the team places traps across the county and tests mosquito batches for diseases such as West Nile to guide treatment decisions. County leaders warn that losing easy access to the wastewater-site facilities could slow time-sensitive responses during peak mosquito season.
Budget Squeeze Meets Tight Timeline
Budget documents and reporting show the county chair’s proposed budget would cut Vector Control by more than $87,000 compared with the previous year, leaving the program at just under $2.2 million in total funding. Per The Oregonian/OregonLive, county estimates put site acquisition costs for a new base of operations at about $14 million, far above the program’s annual operating line and likely requiring a separate capital plan or additional city support. Officials say the short timeline, competing capital needs and a leaner operating budget together make it tough to identify and pay for a new home.
What Happens Next
The Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant, where the vector team has been based for years, is owned and managed by the City of Portland, and the location appears on the city’s service-locations page. City and county leaders say they plan to keep talking about timing, funding and a relocation blueprint, while acknowledging any move will demand significant time and money if they are to avoid gaps in service. For now, the county is continuing its usual surveillance work and public outreach as it weighs possible sites and funding options.
