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News
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for New ARA 16.02: Signature Requirements for Recall Petitions | May 2025
The City Auditor’s Office proposes this new administrative rule, which is available for public comment for thirty days before adoption.
Public notice
Help us decide what to audit next
Community members and City employees can help shape our audit priorities for the coming year.
Blog post

Fire safety concerns at the Cherry Blossom Townhomes
An Ombudsman investigation found that the Fire Bureau’s poor communication left residents of an East Portland affordable housing community concerned about their safety. We also found that parking practices at the property could impede Fire vehicle access.
Report
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for ARA 8: Archives & Records Management | May 2025
The City Auditor’s Office proposes updates to these administrative rules, which are available for public comment for thirty days before adoption.
Public notice
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

2024 Ombudsman Annual Report
We're here to make sure City government treats residents and businesses fairly. See what we were up to in 2024.
Report

Portland Water Bureau accepts Ombudsman’s recommendation to remove unfair fee; other City agencies follow suit
After a 2024 Ombudsman investigation identified inequitable impacts of returned payment fees, the Water Bureau and three other City agencies will remove returned payment fees next fiscal year.
Press release
Adoption of Administrative Rules 3.03, 3.06, 3.07 | March 2025
The City Auditor’s Office adopted new administrative rules, which are effective on March 5, 2025.
Public notice
City should re-start paused Portland International Raceway-North Portland Trust Fund grant program
A recent hotline investigation found inefficiency and waste in the City’s failure to award grants from Portland International Raceway–North Portland Trust Fund. The City has not awarded grants from the Fund since 2020.
Report

Notice of Public Rulemaking and Interim Adoption of Human Resources Adopted Rules 3.03, 3.06, 3.07 | January 2025
The City Auditor’s Office adopted a new administrative rule on an interim basis, which is effective on January 31, 2025. The City Auditor’s Office proposes updates to these rules, which are available for public comment for thirty days.
Public notice
Ombudsman’s review finds City has partly implemented recommendations to reduce harm of complaint-driven property maintenance enforcement system
The City has taken steps to address the inequitable impacts of property maintenance enforcement, but the complaint-based system continues to harm vulnerable homeowners.
Report

Civic Life’s response to grantee non-compliance and poor communication within the City resulted in waste and inefficiency
The Auditor’s Office found evidence of waste and inefficiency in Civic Life’s handling of a grant non-compliance issue and the City’s grant management. Civic Life spent more money than intended and disregarded City policy and the City did not foster communication between bureaus.
Report

Adoption of Archives Administrative Rule 8.03 | January 2025
The City Auditor’s Office adopted a new administrative rule on an interim basis, which is effective on January 7, 2025.
Public notice
Adoption of Archives Administrative Rules (ARA 8 series) | December 2024
The City Auditor’s Office adopted new administrative rules on an interim basis, which are effective on December 20, 2024.
Public notice
Adoption of Campaign Finance Administrative Rule ARA 13: Appendix A | December 2024
The City Auditor’s Office adopted a new administrative rule that is effective on January 1, 2025.
Public notice
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

Adoption of Administrative Rules 15.01, 15.02, 15.03 | December 2024
The City Auditor’s Office adopted new administrative rules that are effective on January 1, 2025.
Public notice
Exit Poll - Portland voters were well informed on ranked-choice voting
City Auditor's Office Commissioned Exit Poll: A majority of Portland voters were well informed on ranked-choice voting, improvement needed in outreach to District 1 and with people of color
Press release

Adoption of Administrative Rules 7.01, 7.02, 7.03 | November 2024
The City Auditor’s Office has adopted new administrative rules effective November 26, 2024.
Public notice
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