3.15.070 Bureau of Revenue and Financial Services.

City Code Section

(Amended by Ordinance 191339, effective July 28, 2023.)

  1. A.  The Bureau of Revenue and Financial Services provides centralized financial services, revenue and tax collection, business regulation, procurement, financial reporting and compliance, risk management, pension oversight and other services or responsibilities the Council or the CAO may assign.
  2. B.  The Bureau of Revenue and Financial Services (BRFS) shall be supervised by a Director, who shall also serve as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the City. The CFO shall report to the CAO but shall serve for the benefit of the entire Council including providing information and advice to elected officials.
  3. C.  The CFO shall be responsible for the overall financial planning, coordination, management and fiscal sustainability of the City. The CFO, or designee, shall have the authority to:
    1. 1.  Formulate, approve and issue financial policies, rules and procedures.
    2. 2.  Oversee revenue development and collection activities.
    3. 3.  Manage cash flow planning and liquidity.
    4. 4.  Manage the City’s debt program and provide expert advice to City bureaus and officers regarding capital financing and the issuance of debt.
    5. 5.  Establish internal control systems to preserve City assets and report accurate financial results.
    6. 6.  Enter into nondisclosure agreements between the City and third parties to review confidential information, including trade secrets or other information designated as proprietary or privileged, related to banking and financial systems, applications, software or hardware, that may be under consideration for use by the City.
    7. 7.  Perform such other duties as may be required by ordinance or by the Council, or which are necessary to implement the purposes of this Section.
  4. D.  A City Controller, who reports to the CFO, shall have the authority to:
    1. 1.  Establish, maintain and enforce citywide accounting policies, practices, rules and regulations.
    2. 2.  Authorize reports that disclose the fiscal condition of the City to external users including the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), the Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR), the Single Audit Report and other reports required by federal, state and local regulations.
    3. 3.  Interpret accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, including pronouncements of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
    4. 4.  Conduct financial and compliance audits and other tests to determine compliance with citywide accounting and financial reporting policies and current professional standards and adequacy of internal controls over accounting transactions, the cost of which shall be paid by the bureau being audited.
    5. 5.  Manage and oversee all incoming federal, state and private grants, and outgoing Special Appropriations grants and contracts.
  5. E.  A City Treasurer, who reports to the CFO, shall have all those authorities and responsibilities described in Chapters 3.08 and 5.30. The City Treasurer shall be responsible for providing centralized banking, merchant and investment services to all City bureaus, and ensuring compliance with City policies, industry best practices, and federal and state laws and regulations, including Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards.
  6. F.  A Chief Procurement Officer, who reports to the CFO, shall have all those authorities and responsibilities described in Chapters 5.33, 5.34 and 5.68 and shall manage and oversee all procurement, contractor services, procurement authority, and policies and rules for procurements, including verification of vendor compliance with City insurance requirements.
  7. G.  A Risk Manager, who reports to the CFO, shall have the authorities and responsibilities described in Chapter 3.54 and as described:
    1. 1.  Administer, coordinate and control all activities related to commercial and self-insurance including but not limited to, property and casualty insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, liability insurance and the City’s right to subrogation on these insurance programs. These activities shall include:
      1. a.  Obtaining a public liability insurance policy or providing the necessary funding through a self-insurance program protecting the City, its officer, agents and employees with limits of not less than the maximum statutory limits of liability imposed on municipalities of the State of Oregon.
      2. b.  Administering workers’ compensation insurance in accordance with the laws for the State of Oregon and on a self-insurance basis.
      3. c.  Maintaining records relating to commercial and self-insurance losses or claims filed against the City and executing any claim or proof of loss for damage to City property.
    2. 2.  Monitor and coordinate a citywide loss prevention and control program to minimize potential property, liability, fidelity and personnel losses.
    3. 3.  Evaluate and approve applications for self-insurance programs in lieu of commercial insurance requirements in any City agreement, including but not limited to contracts and permits.
    4. 4.  Act on behalf of the City on all matters related to workers’ compensation, including but not limited to the authority to:
      1. a.  accept, deny or defer claims;
      2. b.  authorize payments of benefits in the amounts required by law relating to claims filed with the City; and,
      3. c.  enter into settlements of claims whether it be on a disputed claims disposition agreement or disputed claim settlement basis, subject to the provisions of the City Charter governing settlements.
    5. 5.  Act on behalf of the City and in the investigation, evaluation and settlement of property damage, general liability, bodily injury, personal injury, employment practices and other claims brought against the City under the Oregon Tort Claims Act and/or under state and federal civil rights laws, including complaints of discrimination filed with the Civil Rights Division of the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, subject to the provisions of the City Charter governing settlements. In doing this work, the Risk Manager and designees shall be agents of the City Attorney acting on behalf of the City. Settlement of claims and court actions alleging employment discrimination or violations of employees’ civil rights shall be subject to concurrence of the Bureau of Human Resources Director.
    6. 6.  Make settlements in an amount not exceeding $5,000, subject to the provisions of the City Charter governing settlements.
    7. 7.  Investigate and enter into settlements on fair and moral claims governed by Section 1-107 of the City Charter.
  8. H. A Revenue Division Director, who reports to the CFO, shall have the responsibility to:
    1. 1. Manage all billing and collection software used by the Revenue Division.

      2. Manage, enforce, collect and audit business taxes, transient lodging taxes, Arts Education and Access Income Tax and other revenue programs administered by the Revenue Division.

      3. Manage, enforce and audit regulatory programs assigned by the Council, including the enactment of administrative rules and regulations.

      4. Manage lien assessments, collections and foreclosure.

      5. Manage funds as assigned.

      6. Enter into nondisclosure agreements between the City and third parties to review confidential information, including trade secrets or other information designated as proprietary or privileged, related to programs administered by the Revenue Division.

      7. In conjunction with the City Attorney’s office, authority to authorize legal action including litigation to recover debts owed the City of Portland or other revenue programs assigned to the Division.