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Parks Fiscal Management: Systemwide goals and sustainability strategies needed to ensure parks for future generations

Parks does not have enough resources for its existing programs and maintenance obligations. However, it continues to invest in new assets. Our audit recommends that Parks integrate new investment decisions with existing maintenance obligations and clearly communicate fiscal strategies.

Report


2024 Audit Impact Report: Prioritization needed to implement outstanding audit recommendations

While the City has yet to implement over half of our audit recommendations, the implementation rate did increase over last year. We found that leadership was challenged with prioritization in getting outstanding recommendations implemented.

Report


City Auditor announces audit schedule for fiscal year 2025-26

City Auditor Simone Rede released the list of audits her Office plans to begin or complete in the coming fiscal year. Special thanks to the community members, City employees and City officials who shared audit topic ideas.

Press release


Help us decide what to audit next

Community members and City employees can help shape our audit priorities for the coming year.

Blog post


Asset Management: Strategic and coordinated approach needed to take on City’s long-standing issues

For years, the City has underinvested in maintaining its aging assets. Now, it is facing a backlog of costly and urgent needs that it lacks the funding to meet. Our audit recommends that the new form of government take a more strategic approach to developing the infrastructure for infrastructure.

Report


2023 Audit Impact Report: Leadership on coordination, prioritization, and decision-making most needed to implement recommendations by service area

Overall, the City implemented under half of our audit recommendations as of 2023, below the average of other comparable cities. Implementation across service areas ranged from zero to 88 percent. Service areas need leadership on coordination, prioritization, and decision-making to make progress.

Report


Vision Zero: Portland Bureau of Transportation needs to systematically evaluate whether its safety projects reduce traffic deaths and serious injury crashes

Our audit of Vision Zero found rising fatal crashes despite the plan’s focus on traffic safety. The audit calls on the Transportation Bureau to evaluate completed projects to ensure they reduce deaths and injuries and result in equitable outcomes. Data-driven strategies are needed for safer streets.

Report


2023 Audit Impact Report: Opportunities to coordinate services and improve equity of City government as it transitions

The City implemented under half of our audit recommendations as of 2023, below the average of other comparable cities. Portlanders need bold leadership, with a focus on coordination, for the City to make progress on recommendations not yet implemented and to continue to improve equity of services.

Report


Technology Purchasing: Citywide strategy and guidance needed to address problems

We reviewed seven technology purchases and found Technology Services was reactive in coordinating technology purchases. This resulted in inefficiencies and delays. Centralized accountability and guidance are needed for bureaus if the City is to meet strategic goals for purchasing and equity.

Report


Auditors pass peer review

Learn more about the recent “Audit of the auditors”

Blog post


Inclusionary Housing: Housing Bureau should improve Program goals, support for property owners, and monitoring to ensure Program helps address housing crisis

The Inclusionary Housing Program requires developers to include affordable homes in some new buildings. We examined the Program and if it helped property owners follow the rules. The Housing Bureau should improve the goals, property owner support, and monitoring so the Program works as intended.

Updated Report


Joint Office of Homeless Services: Sustained focus on shelter system needed to address unmet needs

Our audit found that the adult and family shelters funded by the Joint Office of Homeless Services were generally full and had long waitlists, could be difficult to access, and only sometimes helped participants move to permanent housing.

Report


Help us choose what to audit!

Every year, we pick about five areas of the City of Portland to audit. We'd love to hear your ideas on how we can make Portland work better for everyone.

News article


Audit Report: Portland Fire & Rescue's Community Health Division programs need guidance and leadership to provide Portlanders with the services they need and reduce demands on firefighters

Our audit identified gaps in the Fire Bureau’s management of the Community Health Division, worsened by an inconsistent commitment to its programs. We make recommendations to articulate goals, plans, and monitor its programs to best serve Portlanders and offset demands on traditional fire crews.

Updated Report


Audit Update: The Fire Bureau has taken steps to improve its accountability system; Human Resources made one improvement to its investigation guidelines, but disagrees others are necessary

This is a one-year follow-up to our 2022 report, "Fire & Rescue does not have a coherent accountability system," that recommended Fire set clear expectations for work requirements and employee conduct, and Human Resources improve guidance and monitoring of complaints, investigations, and discipline

News article


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


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


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