In the December 11, 2017, issue of the Register-Guard, Eugene resident David Funk writes in a letter:
The initiative petition submitted by a group called City Accountability deserves close scrutiny. While I agree that an auditor role is not a bad idea, this proposal is seriously flawed.
A careful reading of the proposed charter amendment reveals several areas of concern, not the least of which is the cost to the taxpayers.
With an annual budget of almost $700,000—money that could be used to help relieve the housing crisis or add five new police officers—the cost of this auditor will further strain a tight city budget.
Even the auditor’s salary is excessive. The proposed salary for the auditor is $153,000, more than any elected official in Oregon, including the governor of Oregon and the Lane County sheriff, and more than seven times the mayor of Eugene. What vital programs do we cut for this high-priced bureaucrat?
Rather than entertain this unreasonably expensive charter amendment, residents of our city would be much better served by a cost-effective city auditor who reports to the elected City Council. The council should develop a reasonable alternative.