Eugene Performance Auditor

Improving the accountability & transparency of city government

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Author: admin

Auditor measures may not be solution for Eugene’s bugs

Posted on 27 Apr 201827 Apr 2018 by admin Posted in Viewpoint Tagged Don Kahle, Register-Guard

In the April 27, 2018, issue of the Register-Guard, Don Kahle writes in a column:

I like the idea of a Eugene city auditor. I see merit in having that person appointed by, and responsible to, the Eugene City Council. It made sense to me in 2002, when a charter review committee recommended it. It makes even more sense to me now — 16 years, eight city councils, three mayors, and four city managers later. Better late than never is the usual rule — but never” in this case may be the better alternative. …

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Auditor Talk

Posted on 26 Apr 201826 Apr 2018 by admin Posted in Letter Tagged Bob Cassidy, Eugene Weekly

In the April 26, 2018, issue of the Eugene Weekly, Eugene resident Bob Cassidy writes in a letter:

The president of the League of Women Voters claims that the city already has an auditor. And that is true. But that is a financial auditor. And it is required of a city to have one. The numbers balance, and money is spent legally. …

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Power to the Press

Posted on 26 Apr 201810 May 2018 by admin Posted in Letter Tagged Eugene Weekly, Steve Mital

In the April 26, 2018, issue of the Eugene Weekly, Eugene resident Steve Mital writes in a letter:

The campaign for a city auditor stems from a perceived need for more robust checks and balances in our city government. Perhaps the most powerful tool for forcing accountability is independent, thorough and thoughtful local investigative reporting. …

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What if Eugene ends up with two auditors?

Posted on 26 Apr 201826 Apr 2018 by admin Posted in Editorial Tagged Eugene Weekly, Slant

In the April 26, 2018, issue of the Eugene Weekly, staff write:

What if Eugene ends up with two auditors? Proponents of the city-backed “auditor-lite” Measure 20-287 say that couldn’t happen because the city charter gives victory to the measure getting more votes when “two conflicting measures” are both approved at the same election. But where’s the conflict? The two ballot measures to be voted on next month propose completely different auditors, one elected and the other appointed, with different staffs and different budgets. Eugene’s new motto could be “The World’s Most-Audited City of the Arts and Outdoors.”

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The debate over elected vs. appointed auditors continues

Posted on 26 Apr 201826 Apr 2018 by admin Posted in Editorial Tagged Eugene Weekly, Slant

In the April 26, 2018, issue of the Eugene Weekly, staff write:

The debate over elected vs. appointed auditors continues, and adding to the discussion last week was a nationally recognized expert on city auditors who spoke at Harris Hall. Gary Blackmer, retired director of audits for the state of Oregon and the city of Portland, laid out his strong support for the elected auditor Ballot Measure 20-283. He was critical of the competing city-sponsored measure to create an appointed auditor, saying the “auditor-lite” proposal has little authority to investigate, no secure whistleblower hotline, and is underfunded — not likely to attract the best candidates. “You get what you pay for,” he says. However, the biggest problem with the appointed auditor, Blackmer says, is a lack of independence. An appointed auditor would be under the oversight of a council-appointed citizen committee that has “built-in conflicts of interest.” Such a power structure violates auditing standards and best practices, he says.

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Make Auditing Great Again! Yes on 20-283, No on 20-287

Posted on 26 Apr 201826 Apr 2018 by admin Posted in Editorial Tagged Endorsement, Eugene Weekly

In the April 26, 2018, issue of the Eugene Weekly, staff write:

Who doesn’t want genuine oversight of the doings of city government?

Well, the backers of Ballot Measure 20-287 don’t, for one. The measure is the Eugene City Council’s cynical response to a previously filed citizens’ initiative — Ballot Measure 20-283 — that would create an independent and separately elected city auditor. …

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20-283 offers an integrity update

Posted on 25 Apr 201824 Apr 2018 by admin Posted in Letter Tagged Lisa-Marie DiVincent, Register-Guard

In the April 25, 2018, issue of the Register-Guard, Eugene resident Lisa-Marie Divincent in a letter:

I respectfully invite Nicole Leseney to read Measure 20-283 again. Her April 24 letter (“Who audits the auditor?”) is either a disingenuous attempt to scare people or she’s sadly misinformed. …

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Who audits the auditor?

Posted on 24 Apr 201824 Apr 2018 by admin Posted in Letter Tagged Nicole Leseney, Register-Guard

In the April 24, 2018, issue of the Register-Guard, Eugene resident Nicole Leseney in a letter:

Do you want to get paid almost $170,000 a year, work from wherever you want (Hawaii? Aspen?), get a raise whenever other officials do — even if you haven’t done anything to earn it, and have a nice staff that answers only to you? If so, run for the Eugene elected auditor position under Measure 20-283 and win the job. …

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Yes on 20-287, no on 20-283

Posted on 24 Apr 201824 Apr 2018 by admin Posted in Letter Tagged Julie Daniel, Register-Guard

In the April 24, 2018, issue of the Register-Guard, Eugene resident Julie Daniel in a letter:

A Eugene city auditor is a good idea too long in coming, but Measure 20-283 is just too flawed to support.

Regrettably, 20-283 petitioners avoided public scrutiny by developing their measure behind closed doors. Major changes to the City Charter should be carefully evaluated in public before going before voters to avoid such problems. …

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Neither measure seems wise

Posted on 24 Apr 201824 Apr 2018 by admin Posted in Letter Tagged Register-Guard, Rosemary Mulligan

In the April 24, 2018, issue of the Register-Guard, Eugene resident Rosemary Mulligan in a letter:

Voting no on both Eugene city auditor proposals would be a good choice in my opinion. The two choices both seem to have flaws. They sell the idea that the auditor could have prevented the City Hall muddle. Auditors are hired only to make sure the city is spending the money on the earmarked city projects wisely and efficiently. The expense is considerable. A better proposal could be presented at a later date if it is deemed necessary. The money would be better spent on more police protection, after school programs, etc.

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Eugene City Council

On Monday, February 12th, 2018, at 7:30 pm, the Eugene City Council voted 5-2 (Clark & Taylor opposed, Semple absent) for Resolution No. 5219 to refer the Citizens for Sensible Oversight proposal for an independent performance auditor to voters on the May 2018 ballot.

On Wednesday, January 24th, 2018, at noon, the Eugene City Council held a fifth work session on the issue of a city auditor:

  • Agenda & materials
  • Webcast

On Monday, January 22nd, 2018, at 7:30 pm, the Eugene City Council held a public forum, at which many spoke on the issue of a city auditor:

  • Agenda & materials
  • Webcast

On Wednesday, January 17th, 2018, at noon, the Eugene City Council held a fourth work session on the issue of a city auditor:

  • Agenda & materials
  • Webcast

On Wednesday, January 10th, 2018, at noon, the Eugene City Council held a third work session on the issue of a city auditor:

  • Agenda & materials
  • Webcast

On Monday, January 8th, 2018, at 7:30 pm, the Eugene City Council held a public forum, at which many spoke on the issue of a city auditor:

  • Agenda & materials
  • Webcast

On Monday, December 11th, 2017, 5:30–7:00 pm, the Eugene City Council held a second work session on the issue of a city auditor:

  • Agenda & materials
  • Webcast

On Monday, November 20th, 2017, 5:30–7:00 pm, the Eugene City Council held a first work session on the issue of a city auditor:

  • Agenda & materials
  • Webcast

Study Group

The Eugene Performance Auditor Study Group has completed it work and submitted its findings to Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis, the Eugene City Council, and the community:

  • Cover letter
  • Matrix summarizing 12 auditors
  • Detailed profiles of 12 auditors

About This Site

This site is intended to support community efforts to explore having a performance auditor for the City of Eugene.

In particular, this site includes information on the Eugene Performance Auditor Study Group convened by Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis to look at the pros and cons of different ways to establish a performance auditor.

For information about Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis, her blog, and her monthly dashboard of city efforts, please visit her official page.

For information about the upcoming May 2018 election, please see information for the Eugene City Recorder.

For information about the Citizens for Sensible Oversight (CSO) alternative please visit CitizensForSensibleOversight.org.

For information about the ballot initiative Measure 20-283 by chief petitioners Bonny Bettman McCornack, David Monk and George Brown, please visit CityAccountability.org.

For information about Check and Balances, the nonprofit Bonny Bettman McCornack, David Monk, Paul Nicholson and Wayne Lottinville established “to engage in research, outreach, and education to help guide policy and financial decision making by our community and its elected and non-elected leadership,” please visit Checks-Balances.org.

Recent News & Views

  • Grow Up 26 Jul 2018
  • Shame on Eugene 26 Jul 2018
  • Vote against auditor measure was blow against democracy 17 Jul 2018
  • The city auditor story in Eugene is a tale of power, personalities and probably fear 12 Jul 2018
  • Revised Elected Auditor Measure Fails with City Council: City Council voted ‘no’ on a revised elected auditor measure for November’s ballot 10 Jul 2018

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