Audit Reports

• 2017 Reports

  • Tree Code: Implementation phase shows progress and pitfalls - HIGHLIGHTS - (Report 495) - 9/6/17

  • Tree Code: Implementation phase shows progress and pitfalls (Report 495) - 9/6/17

  • Audit of the Auditor - 2017 Peer Review of the Audit Services Division (Report 500) - 8/29/17

  • Risk Management: City loss prevention needs a proactive approach - VIDEO - (Report 493) - 6/22/17

  • Risk Management: City loss prevention needs a proactive approach - HIGHLIGHTS - (Report 493) - 6/22/17

  • Risk Management: City loss prevention needs a proactive approach (Report 493) - 6/22/17

  • Translated Community Survey: Half report City is doing a good job - HIGHLIGHTS (Report 496) - 4/25/17

  • Translated Community Survey: Half report City is doing a good job (Report 496) - 4/25/17

  • Portland's Financial Condition: Funding infrastructure should be high priority - HIGHLIGHTS (Report 490) - 4/12/17

  • Portland's Financial Condition: Funding infrastructure should be high priority (Report 490) - 4/12/17

• 2016 Reports

  • Portland Building Reconstruction: City faced with important post-planning decisions to ensure project success - HIGHLIGHTS (Report 482) - 12/29/16

  • Portland Building Reconstruction: City faced with important post-planning decisions to ensure project success (Report 482) - 12/29/16

  • Americans with Disabilities Act: Coordination gaps complicate City response - HIGHLIGHTS (Report 476) - 12/13/16

  • Americans with Disabilities Act: Coordination gaps complicate City response (Report 476) - 12/13/16

  • 2016 Community Survey: Portlanders' ratings of city livability drop to new low - HIGHLIGHTS (Report 485) - 11/30/16

  • 2016 Community Survey: Portlanders' ratings of city livability drop to new low (Report 485) - 11/30/16

  • Community and Neighborhood Involvement: Accountability limited, rules and funding model outdated - HIGHLIGHTS (Report 484) - 11/16/16

  • Community and Neighborhood Involvement: Accountability limited, rules and funding model outdated (Report 484) - 11/16/16

  • Transportation Network Companies and Taxicabs: Transportation Bureau needs to monitor service, not just safety (Report 488) - 10/12/16

  • Human Resources: Risks in managing the City's workforce (Report 465) - 10/5/16

  • Green Buildings: Costs and outcomes need more attention (Report 480) - 9/1/16

  • City Transaction Testing: Continuous monitoring revealed few issues (Report 454) - 8/29/16

  • Presidential Campaign Visits: The City should follow policy and charge for services (Report 489) - 5/31/16

  • Payment Card Data Security: Consumer information is safer (Report 486) - 5/11/16

  • Technology Projects: Lack of governance hurts City projects and disaster planning - HIGHLIGHTS (Report 460B) - 2/4/16

  • Technology Projects: Lack of governance hurts City projects and disaster planning (Report 460B) - 2/4/16

  • City Council Grants: No competition and limited oversight - HIGHLIGHTS (Report 479) - 1/21/16

  • City Council Grants: No competition and limited oversight (Report 479) - 1/21/16

  • Portland Development Commission: Management of on-call contracts inconsistent with Commission expectations - HIGHLIGHTS - (Report 474) - 1/13/16

  • Portland Development Commission: Management of on-call contracts inconsistent with Commission expectations - SUMMARY - (Report 474) - 1/13/16

  • Portland Development Commission: Management of on-call contracts inconsistent with Commission expectations FULL REPORT - (Report 474) - 1/13/16

• 2015 Reports

  • 2015 Community Survey: Booming construction, traffic congestion, and costly housing - HIGHLIGHTS - (Report 473) - 11/5/15

  • 2015 Community Survey: Booming construction, traffic congestion, and costly housing - FULL REPORT - (Report 473) - 11/5/15

  • Arts Tax: Promises to voters only partly fulfilled - HIGHLIGHTS - (Report 472) - 7/28/15

  • Arts Tax: Promises to voters only partly fulfilled - FULL REPORT - (Report 472) - 7/28/15

  • Red Light Cameras: City can fine tune some program aspects and solidify plans for future (Report 466) - 7/22/15

  • Southwest Portland: Residents rate livability highly while some services are much worse than citywide (Report 467) - 7/8/15

  • Portland's Fiscal Sustainability and Financial Condition: Maintenance needs and pension costs challenge long-term position (Report 470) - 6/29/15

  • City Procurement: Contracting process needs Council intervention (Report 446A) - 6/24/15

  • Surplus Real Property: Policy, central management, and inventory of real property holdings needed (Report 461) - 4/2/15

  • City Attorney's Office: Good practices in place; next steps include strategic plan, measures, and post-contract evaluations (Report 459) - 3/11/15

  • Police Training Division: Progress made, but evaluating impacts on officer performance must be improved (Report 457) - 3/3/15

  • Portland Children's Levy: Funds benefit children but goals and structure should be clarified (Report 468) - 2/24/15

  • City Budget Process: Timing, roles, and decision-making need improvement (Report 455) - 2/11/15

• 2014 Reports

  • Portland Streetcar: City transit targets unmet, better performance management needed (Report 451B) - 12/11/14

  • Bureau of Technology Services: City fails to comply with payment card industry standard (Report 460A) - 11/18/14

  • City of Portland 24th annual community survey results (Report 463) - 10/29/14

  • B.E.S. Columbia Building: Scope additions and ineffective design oversight led to substantially higher project costs (Report 446B) - 10/22/14

  • Audit of the Auditor - 2014 Peer Review of the Audit Services Division (Report 456) - 10/2/14

  • Portland Development Commission: Human resources and payroll practices functioning effectively (Report 458) – 8/12/14

  • Vacant Positions: Few positions vacant long-term, but enhanced oversight can reduce risk (Report 444) - 5/1/14

  • East Portland: History of City services examined (Report 435) - 4/23/14

  • Portland Streetcar: City bears financial burden and operational risk while relying on outside partners (Report 451A) - 4/17/14

  • Organic Waste: Residential collection increased, but challenges remain in larger commercial sector (Report 447) – 4/8/14

  • Building Permits: Extension practices inconsistent; documentation lacking (Report 420B) - 4/3/14

  • Sexual Assault Response: Progress made toward a victim-centered approach

  • Housing Loan Program: Funding supports goals, but low repayment may jeopardize long-term success (Report 449) - 3/24/14

• 2013 Reports

  • City of Portland 23rd Annual Community Survey Results (Report 450) - 10/30/13

  • Human Capital Management Software: Most modules now implemented, but additional costs exceed $3 million (Report 437) - 10/16/13

  • Residential and Commercial Inspections: Strengthen oversight and management practices; document procedures (Report 420A) - 9/25/13

  • Portland Parks and Recreation: Managing diverse assets requires evaluation of maintenance (Report 439) - 8/14/13

  • Emergency Communications: Training, quality control and procedures warrant improvement (Report 430) - 7/15/13

  • Transition Report: Key risks for City Council (Report 438) - 7/11/13

  • Emergency Management: Coordination improved and most essential functions complete (Report 441) - 6/24/13

  • Portland's Fiscal Sustainability and Financial Condition: Long-term financial position needs attention (Report 443) - 6/19/13

  • Portland Development Commission: Records management systems in place, but support and direction needed (Report 442) - 4/30/2013

  • Public Safety Systems Revitalization Program: Management problems impact cost and schedule goals (Report 422) - 4/4/2013

  • Urban Services Policy and Resolution A: Core City services not articulated; 30-year-old commitments obsolete (Report 433) - 3/26/13

  • Street Pavement: Condition shows need for better stewardship (Report 432) - 2/19/2013

  • Transportation Funding: Revenues up, spending on maintenance down (Report 436) - 1/30/2013

• 2012 Reports

  • Portland Development Commission: Indicators in Urban Renewal Areas suggest economic progress (Report 440) - 12/13/12

  • City of Portland 22nd Annual Community Survey Results (Report 428) - 10/30/12

  • City Financial Transactions: Issues warrant management attention (Report 406A) - 9/26/12

  • Debt Reserves: Legal reserves meet requirements, but internal reserves need more accountability (Report 425) - 8/28/12

  • A report to our community (Report 431) - 7/25/12

  • Portland Fire & Rescue: More active management of overtime and call shifts needed for good stewardship of limited resources (Report 418) - 6/28/12

  • Residential Solid Waste: Customer rates accurate, but monitoring should continue (Report 429) - 6/20/12

  • SUMMARY: Portland Water Bureau asset management audit (Report 405) - 6/7/12

  • Portland Water Bureau: Further advances in asset management would benefit ratepayers (Report 405) - 6/7/12

  • Portland Housing Bureau: Bureau acting on risks, although more remains to be done (Report 421) - 5/23/12

  • Portland Police Bureau Learning: Improvements needed to strengthen existing processes (Report 416) - 5/15/12

  • Downtown Office Space: City uses most of its owned space, but lease practices need attention (Report 417) - 4/30/12

  • PDC Economic Development Loans: Loan programs improved, but tracking major borrowers limited (Report 419) - 3/14/12

  • Portland Development Commission: Financial transaction review reveals areas warranting management attention ( Report 406B) - 2/16/12

  • DNA Testing: Turnaround time must improve to meet national guidelines (Report 427) - 1/12/12

• 2011 Reports

  • City of Portland 21st Annual Community Survey Results (Report 409) - 12/6/11

  • Audit of the Auditor - 2011 Peer Review of the Audit Services Division (Report 402) - 9/9/11

  • Span of Control: Although numbers are reported, bureaus lack organizational structure goals (Report 397) - 8/17/11

  • Portland's Fiscal Sustainability and Financial Condition: Actions now can reduce risk of future problems (Report 399) - 7/28/11

  • Portland Center for the Performing Arts: Outsourced management good for the City, but agreements and oversight need improvement (Report 393) - 6/30/11

  • Fire and Police Disability and Retirement: Improvements resulted from 2006 Charter reforms, but significant fiscal challenges remain (Report 408) - 6/22/11

  • Police Property Evidence Division: Internal controls and physical security strong; tracking system needs improvement (Report 403) - 4/4/11

  • Spending utility ratepayer money: Not always linked to services, decision process inconsistent (Report 398) - 3/30/11

  • Percent for Art: Progress made, but consistency can be improved (Report 401) - 2/17/11

• 2010 Reports

  • Sewer Maintenance: BES and PBOT maintain the system together, but should consider operational changes (12/16/10)

  • City of Portland Service Efforts and Accomplishments: 2009-10 (12/2/10)

  • Police Taser Use: Incidents generally resolved, but some practices and policies could be improved (11/18/10)

  • Business System Software Implementation: Expensive, late, and incomplete (11/9/10)

  • City of Portland 20th Annual Community Survey Results (11/4/10)

  • Facilities Services: Project management practices improved (9/29/10)

  • Portland Fire & Rescue: Emergency response time goal not met, though PF&R strives for excellence (7/7/10)

  • Portland job creation and stimulus: Construction spending is up, while actual job creation remains unknown (6/28/10)

  • Emergency Management: Coordination limited and essential functions incomplete (5/24/10)

  • Portland Police Bureau: Drug training aid procedures strengthened, recently improved practices should continue (5/20/10)

  • Sheltered Market Program: Need for clearer focus and stronger management (1/6/10)

• 2009 Reports

  • City of Portland Service Efforts and Accomplishments : 2008-09 (12/3/09)

  • City of Portland 2009 Resident Survey Results (11/12/09)

  • Federal Stimulus: Portland well-positioned to receive funds and meet requirements (9/10/09)

  • Fraud Reporting: Clarification of process and training needed (9/9/09)

  • Clean Air: City enforces parking laws to improve air quality (8/27/09)

  • PDC Contracting Follow-up: Contracting concerns addressed through a centralized procurement structure (6/25/09)

  • Public Works Supervisor Overtime: Most recommendations implemented but confusion about revised rule persists (6/10/09)

  • Utility and Franchise Revenue: Equitable tax and consistent approach needed to improve collections (5/11/09)

  • Overtime Management: Significant City expenditures lack policies and safeguards (4/22/09)

  • Financial Condition in the City of Portland: 1999-2008 (4/8/09)

  • Transition Report: Key challenges for a new City Council (2/25/09)

  • Five-Year Parks Levy: Facilities and services enhanced, but ballot title misleading (2/3/09)

• 2008 Reports

  • City of Portland Service Efforts and Accomplishments: 2007-08 (12/9/08)

  • 2008 Resident Survey Results (12/9/08)

  • 2008 Resident Survey Methodology (12/9/08)

  • 2008 Business Survey Results (12/9/08)

  • 2008 Business Survey Methodology (12/9/08)

  • Portland Fire & Rescue: Controlled substances monitoring falls short of requirements (10/8/08)

  • Portland Development Commission: Developers comply with Disposition and Development Agreements, but PDC does not monitor adequately (9/24/08)

  • Audit of the Auditor - 2008 Peer Review of the Audit Services Division (8/28/08)

  • Street Paving: Office of Transportation improved quality assurance, but is resurfacing fewer streets (8/26/09)

  • Downtown SmartMeters: Most goals met, but cost-benefits and reliability need further review (7/31/08)

  • Housing Tax Abatements: Oversight inadequate to ensure program goals (7/28/08)

  • Public Participation in Capital Projects: Bureau processes align with best practices, but should be formalized and available to residents (3/18/08)

  • Office of Neighborhood Involvement: Clearer goals and more comprehensive measures needed to improve accountability (6/12/08)

  • Mandatory Supervisory Training: Not cost-effective and should be streamlined (3/14/08)

  • Police Overtime: Most recommendations implemented, but more could be done (2/15/08)

  • Construction Contracts: Bureau of Environmental Services strengthened its contract management procedures (2/12/08)

  • Construction Contracts: Facilities Services needs to improve coordination with bureaus to reduce costs and delays (1/9/08)

• 2007 Reports

  • City of Portland Service Efforts and Accomplishments: 2006-07 (Report 340) - 12/4/07

  • 2007 Resident Survey Results (Report 340) - 12/4/07

  • 2007 Resident Survey Methodology (Report 340) - 12/4/07

  • 2007 Business Survey Results (Report 340) - 12/4/07

  • 2007 Business Survey Methodology (Report 340) - 12/4/07

  • Downtown Parking Meters: Meters and pay stations are working, but certain transactions can be challenging (Report 352A) - 10/30/07

  • City Computers: Computers found with difficulty, tracking systems need to be improved (Report 350) - 10/16/07

  • City Recruitment Process: Monitoring needed to ensure balance of flexibility and fairness (Report 356) - 10/10/07

  • Ending Homelessness: Many short-term goals met; now long-term success should be defined (Report 336) - 8/27/07

  • Portland Parks Facility Maintenance: Tracking, assessment and measurement have improved (Report 353) - 7/31/07

  • Portland Parks and Recreation Follow-up: New softball contract allows Parks to develop competitive request for proposals (Report 355) 7/9/07

  • Strategic Sourcing: Projected savings not achieved -- program poorly implemented (Report 349) - 7/3/07

  • Sexual Assault and Investigation: Portland efforts fall short of a victim-centered approach (Report 342) - 6/19/07

  • Financial Condition in the City of Portland: 1997-2006 (Report 326) - 4/27/07

  • Pandemic Flu Planning: City bureaus aware of national plans (Report 345) - 3/6/07

• 2006 Reports

  • City of Portland Service Efforts and Accomplishments: 2005-06

  • Revenue Bureau License and Tax Division: Program makes significant progress since last audit

  • Public Works Supervisor Overtime: City Rules allowing overtime need clarification

  • Fire Station Bond Program: Citizen oversight in place and spending matches voter intent

  • Street Paving: City work not meeting pavement quality standards

  • Street Paving: Current contract management practices put asphalt price and supply stability at risk

  • Financial Transaction Review: Few results identified for further study

  • Street Paving: More proactive maintenance could preserve additional city streets within existing funding

  • Bureau of Technology Services: Customers see improved service, but improved communication would help

  • Portland Development Commission: Economic development efforts effective, but improvements needed to measure and manage future success

  • Street Paving: City needs to demonstrate least cost

  • Partial Day Leave for Exempt Employees: Clarification would improve policy

• 2005 Reports

  • City of Portland Service Efforts and Accomplishments: 2004-05

  • Office of Government Relations: Expense documentation and approval process can be improved

  • Portland Development Commission Internal Controls: Policies are in place, but authorizations and documentation are often lacking

  • Best Practices for Information Technology Governance

  • Parks Bureau Softball: Operating agreement for the softball program should be revised as it nears self-sufficiency

  • Percent for Art Program: Financial allocation process is informal, inconsistent, and may not fulfill requirements for public art

  • Development Review Process: Bureau commitments to improve timeliness and efficiency have not been fully accomplished

  • Audit of the Auditor - 2005 Peer Review of the Audit Services Division

  • 2004 Citizen Survey: Results from six targeted neighborhoods

  • Police Investigations: Improvements needed to address relatively low clearance rates

  • I.T. Rate Methodology Reasonable But Charges Inadequately Explained

  • Financial Condition in the City of Portland: 1995-2004

• ARCHIVE OF OLDER REPORTS