The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners approved a term sheet Thursday that would provide up to $101.6 million toward renovating the 31-year-old Moda Center, moving the Portland Trail Blazers closer to securing requested public funding. The board voted 4-1 in favor, with the approved amount $13.6 million higher than the original $88 million proposal from March, reflecting additional maintenance and service costs.

County chair Jessica Vega Pederson addressed the significance of the vote.

"I want this step today to be seen by the NBA and its board of governors to know just how serious we are about keeping the Blazers here in Portland," said Vega Pederson.

Thursday's vote does not finalize funding but establishes a starting point for continued negotiations between the county and the Blazers, with the city of Portland also involved ahead of a planned December vote. The Blazers are seeking a combined $573 million from county, city and state sources. Portland's city council is scheduled to vote next week on its proposed $120 million contribution, while the state legislature has already appropriated $365 million, contingent on the other funding sources coming through and a new lease agreement being reached with the city by year's end.

Even if all requested funding is approved, the Blazers and local officials would still need to finalize a long-term lease to keep the team at the Moda Center beyond their current bridge agreement, which runs through October 2030.

Tensions between the city and the Blazers have grown in recent weeks over language in the current lease that could theoretically allow the city to sue the team, though city officials have repeatedly said litigation is not their intent and would only be considered if the Blazers pursued relocation. Deputy city administrator Donnie Oliveira addressed the issue in a July 27 email to Blazers officials.

"We again reiterate our position in this proposal that the information (Rip City Management) provides regarding any future renovation will not be used against (the Blazers) and the city has no intention of using the current Bridge Agreement in that manner," wrote Oliveira, citing lease language stating: "Landlord agrees not to raise, assert, pursue, or otherwise enforce in any manner the 'first-class' obligations of Tenant hereunder."

The Blazers have nonetheless requested that the city remove the clause entirely, along with the associated legal risk. City officials have declined to renegotiate the existing agreement. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson addressed the dispute during a recent public forum attended by Blazers officials.

"The mayor, the city administrator, the city attorney have never contemplated suing the Blazers," said Wilson. "It's never been a part of our conversations."

Blazers president Dewayne Hankins criticized Portland's broader business climate during that same forum.

"Portland's current stagnant business climate, high income taxes and divisive political environment makes this a tough city to invest in," said Hankins. "It makes it harder to sell tickets, secure corporate sponsorships and recruit players."

Some county commissioners expressed reservations about the funding level before ultimately voting in favor Thursday. Commissioner Meghan Moyer addressed her position during the meeting.

"I want to make this clear to the NBA," said Moyer. "Although I personally would like our contribution to be less, I want to be very clear that I have heard, although I will say indirectly, because nobody from the Blazers has ever talked to me, that it is incredibly important to show our intent that they have $88 million from us in the capital stack. How that got to be, I have feelings about, but is not relevant to this conversation. The thing that I believe we are hearing is we've been asked for that level of contribution as an important symbol of this region's commitment to the Blazers."

The county has also hired Chris Oxley, a former Blazers executive and general manager of the Rose Quarter, to serve as its lead negotiator. Portland's city council is set to vote on its own funding contribution Wednesday.