In the December 28, 2017, issue of the Eugene Weekly, Eugene resident Ben Torres writes in a letter:
If Eugene voters are looking to eliminate waste in city government, they should start by slashing the bloated salary of the proposed city auditor. According to the ballot description, the “Auditor [would be] paid at least 70 percent of averaged salaries of Eugene and Salem City Managers and EWEB General Manger (approximately $153,000 in 2017), plus same benefit package as Eugene City Manager.”
He or she would be paid more the Lane County sheriff ($135,860), more than the mayor of Portland ($131,560) and definitely more than the governor of Oregon ($98,600). Most telling, the proposed Eugene city auditor would be paid more than Portland’s ($110,802), who manages a staff of 50 and a budget of $10 million.
I believe the city auditor would be the highest paid elected official in Oregon! I support cutting waste in city government and want to see more accountability and transparency. That is why I will be voting “no” on this half-baked proposal.