News
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Fraud Hotline Report: City’s repeated installation of curb ramps was inefficient and wasteful
The Auditor’s Office found evidence of waste and inefficiency in project management stemming from unclear responsibilities and miscommunication throughout a curb replacement project.
Report
Audit Update: Momentous move by Council to consolidate permitting as City reforms continue
This is a two-year follow-up to our 2021 report, Building Permit Audit: Long-standing inability to meet customers’ needs won’t improve without better management, sustained governance.
News article
Audit Update: The Office of Management and Finance has addressed most City credit card risks; purchase of gift cards prohibited until City policy is in place
This is a two-year follow-up to our 2021 report, City credit card use slowed during pandemic but exposes underlying risks.
News article
Audit Update: Council’s legislative changes helped the Portland Clean Energy Fund put management systems in place
This is a one-year follow-up to our 2022 report Portland Clean Energy Fund: Additional steps needed to implement voter-approved program.
News article
Portland Bureau of Transportation: Process in place to ensure capital projects meet specifications, but there were ways around it
Transportation had a formal process to document inspections before making payments, but staff were able to work around steps. Supervisors didn’t have procedures to identify allowable exceptions. We make recommendations to ensure staff follow the process and that supervisors are aware of exceptions.
Report
Fraud Hotline Report: Tips about Transportation manager alleged government waste and abuse
The Auditor’s Office found evidence of waste and abuse when investigating tips about vehicle use and outside employment in the Transportation Bureau. We shared our findings and recommendations with the Transportation Bureau.
Report
Audit Update: Bureaus have taken initial steps to address challenges in maintaining the City’s sewers, but have not re-evaluated their overall agreement
This is a one-year follow-up to our 2021 report Sewer Maintenance: Renewed attention to partnership needed to better serve ratepayers.
News article
Audit Services Update: Police made some progress to strengthen intelligence gathering policies, but other management improvements remain
This is a one-year follow-up to our 2022 report Police Intelligence-Gathering and Surveillance: Better management needed to protect civil rights.
News article
Audit Update: No progress on Citywide collection strategies; some improvements by individual bureaus
This is a one-year follow-up to our 2022 report: Taxes, fines, and fees: Customers who owe caught in a maze of inconsistent and uncoordinated collection strategies.
News article
Fraud Hotline Update: New Fire Bureau compensation package allows use of City water to wash personal vehicles, but risk of perceived waste and disregard for resource conservation remains
Some progress made, but Fire Bureau changed rules to allow washing personal vehicles with City water despite Auditor’s finding of government waste.
News article
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking | April 2023
The City Auditor proposes the following revised human resources administrative rules for adoption: ARA 3.03, ARA 3.04, ARA 3.06, ARA 3.10, and ARA 3.11.
Public notice
Gang Enforcement Audits Update: Police Bureau has improved patrol activities, but still needs a policy for using gang information
Since our 2018 audits on the Police Bureau's Gang Enforcement Team, the Police Bureau has formed new units. This follow-up on our 2018 recommendations found the Bureau has improved patrol activities, but still needs a policy for using gang information.
News article
Audit Services Update: Emergency Management has made some progress toward improving emergency planning and response for people with disabilities
This is a one-year follow-up to our 2021 audit of Portland Bureau of Emergency Management, in which we made seven recommendations to improve the City’s emergency planning and response for people with disabilities.
News article
Audit Services Update: Office of Equity & Human Rights has made progress on ensuring Americans with Disabilities Act compliance
This is a one-year follow-up to our 2021 report that called attention to compliance risks related to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
News article
2022 Fraud Hotline Annual Report
The Auditor’s Office Fraud Hotline provides City employees and members of the public a way to confidentially report suspected fraud, waste, and abuse of position by or against the City.
Report
Audit Update: Little progress on City review of Enhanced Services Districts
This is the two-year follow-up to our 2020 report Enhanced Services Districts: City provides little oversight of privately funded public services
News article
Fraud Hotline Report: Purchasing problems lead to inefficiency and mistrust
The Auditor’s Office found evidence of inefficiency when investigating a tip about sole source contracting by the Community Safety Division. We shared our findings and recommendations to Community Safety and Procurement Services, which provided guidance and training to the Division.
Report
Audit Update: Procurement Services made limited progress to improve construction contracting equity
This is a two-year follow-up to our 2020 report, Equity in Construction Contracting: Some goals achieved despite mismanagement, waste, and gamesmanship.
News article
Audit Update: City advanced building permit reforms; Council and multi-bureau engagement noteworthy
This is a one-year follow-up to our 2021 report, "Long-standing inability to meet customers’ needs won’t improve without better management, sustained governance."
News article
Portland Fire & Rescue does not have a coherent accountability system
We found that the Portland Fire Bureau has not invested the time, attention, and resources needed for a coherent employee accountability system. We make recommendations for training and complaint, investigation, and discipline processes to help ensure that the Bureau achieves its diversity goals.
Report
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