Reports
Building Permit Review Audit
Getting a building permit in Portland can be a frustratingly slow process. Delays can affect the economy and motivate property owners to skirt the permitting system altogether. Our audit recommends ways to address persistent problems as the City strives for economic recovery from COVID-19.
Report
Portland Police needs to ensure language services are equitable and consistent
Independent Police Review took a closer look at interactions between police officers and community members who may need language services and recommended changes to the Portland Police Bureau to strengthen effective communication.
Report
Auditor's 2020 Accountability Report
The Auditor’s Office is Portlanders’ independent agency responsible for providing oversight of City government. This Accountability Report, covering the year 2020, shows the breadth, depth and impact of our work.
Report
Equity in Construction Contracting: Some goals achieved despite mismanagement, waste, and gamesmanship
Along with context and evidence, we make 16 recommendations in our audit report for improving the City’s contracting equity strategies. These include suggestions for better program design as well as measures to improve oversight, transparency, and accountability.
Report
Enhanced Services Districts: City provides little oversight of privately funded public services
Districts provide security and maintenance of public spaces, but without the level of transparency and accountability required for similar services managed by the City.
Report
Auditor's 2019 Accountability Report
The Auditor's Accountability Report, covering the year 2019, provides examples of how we’ve been responsive to the public’s concerns, scrutinized the City’s spending of public dollars, tracked lobbyist influence, and revived forgotten parts of our City’s history.
Report
Lents Urban Renewal: 20 years of investment with minimal evaluation
The City’s economic development agency, Prosper Portland, needs to measure and tell the public what urban renewal investments have accomplished in Lents, according to our audit report.
Report
Cannabis Program: Management fundamentals needed to improve regulation of emerging industry
Like other businesses that operate in Portland, cannabis businesses must meet various building, safety and environmental requirements. This audit focused on the responsibilities and activities of Civic Life. We did not include a review of the permitting process at the other City bureaus.
Report
The City needs to make realistic commitments to voters and ensure they are delivered
Portland City Council committed to accountability measures when it asked voters to approve recent taxes and bonds related to the arts, cannabis, affordable housing, and street repair. According to our audit, implementation of some of the accountability protections fell short of what was promised.
Report
Portland Building Contract: Costs reviewed were consistent with contract, although required cost classification and calculations for final payment need to start now
The City Auditor contracted with construction audit experts, Sjoberg Evashenk Consulting, to audit the City’s compliance with requirements for how the main contractor will be compensated for costs, submit contract changes, and select subcontractors.
Report
Police Overtime: Management is lax despite high overtime use
Portland Police overtime was high by historical standards in 2018. Officers worked nearly 250,000 hours and the Bureau spent $15.7 million on overtime. We found management of overtime for patrol officers could be improved.
Report
Portland Housing Bond: Early implementation results mostly encouraging
In November 2016, voters gave Portland the go-ahead to borrow $258.4 million to invest in affordable housing to address a growing housing crisis. The goal was to build or buy 1,300 housing units. Our audit found bond implementation is off to a solid start.
Report
Portland Building Follow-up: Greater public transparency needed about project costs, trade-offs, and missed equity requirement
We identified risk areas during the project’s initial phase and this report follows up on the recommendations from that audit.
Report
Portland Parks Golf: Changes needed to ensure long-term sustainability
Portland Parks and Recreation’s golf program is at a crossroads. Intended to be self-supporting, the program required an infusion of $800,000 of taxpayer funds in 2017 to remain solvent. While Parks improved practices on some fronts, financial risks remain.
Report
Recreational Cannabis Tax: Greater transparency and accountability needed
The City should improve the transparency and accountability of the recreational cannabis tax revenue, according to our audit.
Report
Clean-ups of Homeless Camps: Improved Communications and Data Needed
Portland created a program in 2015 to address some of the impacts of people living in tents and other makeshift shelters on City property. We make recommendations to improve the program’s public information, data, and internal policies.
Report
Short-Term Rental Regulation: Enforcement is lax and effect on housing crisis unknown
Despite concerns about the effect of short-term rentals on housing availability and affordability, the City of Portland does not collect data needed to regulate these rentals and monitor the housing market.
Report
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