Eugene Performance Auditor

Improving the accountability & transparency of city government

  • Welcome
  • Study Group
  • News & Views
    • News
    • Poll
    • Editorial
    • Viewpoint
    • Blog
    • Letter
    • Comment
    • Event
    • Job
  • Resources

Category: Letter

Grow Up

Posted on 26 Jul 201827 Jul 2018 by admin Posted in Letter, Uncategorized Tagged Eugene Weekly, Richard Guske

In the July 26, 2018, issue of the Eugene Weekly, Eugene resident Richard Guske writes:

Regarding the July 12 “Slant” column: What? Let’s get to our “greatest challenge,” the election of effective candidates, “only four months away,” without the help of the “mayor, manager and staff and City Council.”

And, sob, we don’t even have a “truly effective auditor like so many other cities have.” Let the adults stand up please.

Read More

Shame on Eugene

Posted on 26 Jul 201827 Jul 2018 by admin Posted in Letter, Uncategorized Tagged Eugene Weekly, Jerome Garger

In the July 26, 2018, issue of the Eugene Weekly, Yachats resident Jerome Garger writes:

Another damaging blow to our fragile and precarious democracy has been struck, this time in “liberal” Eugene.

Eugene’s mayor and six city councilors voted against Betty Taylor’s recent admirable motion to allow a public vote on a modified citizen-initiated measure to create the position of an official auditor, one with real power to examine and report on their misuse of taxpayers’ money and their other highly questionable shenanigans.
…

Read More

Vote against auditor measure was blow against democracy

Posted on 17 Jul 201822 Jul 2018 by admin Posted in Letter Tagged Jerome Garger, Register-Guard

In the July 17, 2018, issue of the Register-Guard, Yachats resident Jerome Garger writes in a letter:

Another damaging blow to our fragile and precarious democracy has been struck, this time in “liberal” Eugene.

Six city councilors voted against Councilor Betty Taylor’s recent admirable motion to allow a public vote on a modified citizen-initiated measure that would create the position of an official auditor with real power to examine and report on their highly questionable shenanigans. The council’s trumped-up, meaningless competing measure on the May ballot muddied the waters when the swamp needed draining. Their Republican-type tactic worked for them.

Shameful.

Read More

Don’t Drop Auditor Idea

Posted on 7 Jun 20187 Jun 2018 by admin Posted in Letter Tagged Branden Johnson, Eugene Weekly

In the June 7, 2018, issue of the Eugene Weekly, Eugene resident Branden Johnson writes:

On vacation while auditing votes were counted, I have been bemused by post-election comments. One side says Eugene avoided an autocratic, over-priced elected auditor promoted by a narrow neighborhood cabal; the other side says the people’s preference was defeated by a late insincere option aimed at vote-splitting, resulting in continued double-dealing by local government.
…

Read More

Splitting the Vote

Posted on 24 May 201824 May 2018 by admin Posted in Letter Tagged Eugene Weekly, James Stauffer

In the May 24, 2018, issue of the Eugene Weekly, Eugene resident James Stauffer writes:

Analyzing the voting data for the dueling city auditor ballot measures shows that the majority of voters did want an auditor, but vote-splitting resulted in no auditor being selected. …

Read More

What was city afraid of regarding auditor initiative?

Posted on 21 May 201822 Jul 2018 by admin Posted in Letter Tagged Eugene Weekly, Ruth Duemler

In the May 21, 2018, issue of the Register-Guard, Eugene resident Ruth Duemler writes:

My thanks to Bonny Bettman McCormack and all those who worked so hard gathering signatures for Measure 20-283, a citizen campaign to have expert advice on city spending.

After the city of Eugene stabbed this effort, I doubt we will ever have another citizen initiative in Eugene.

What was the city afraid of? Where will the next gravel pit appear?

Read More

In wake of election, strive for responsible budgeting

Posted on 18 May 201817 May 2018 by admin Posted in Letter Tagged Joshua Skov, Register-Guard

In the May 18, 2018, issue of the Register-Guard, Eugene Budget Committee member Joshua Skov writes in a letter:

I would like to thank the proponents of measures 20-283 and 20-287 for their campaigns in support of a Eugene city auditor. Although both measures lost, they showed a significant appetite for accountability and transparency. …

Read More

Follow the Money

Posted on 14 May 201824 May 2018 by admin Posted in Letter Tagged Eugene Weekly, Ruth Duemler

In the May 14, 2018, online edition of the Eugene Weekly, Eugene resident Ruth Duemler writes:

City Hall costs are adding up to more and more dollars down the drain! The $1.3 million annual rent for the many city hall facilities fails to include the cost of move, the cost of remodeling and the cost of traveling from one city hall rental to another. We also discover that rental contracts are for 10 years. …

Read More

Selling the Story

Posted on 14 May 201824 May 2018 by admin Posted in Letter Tagged Eugene Weekly, Otis Haschemeyer

In the May 14, 2018, online edition of the Eugene Weekly, Eugene resident Otis Haschemeyer writes:

“Give ‘em the same but different,” they say in Hollywood. It means you’re going to get the same story. Cosmetically different, it isn’t. Not because there’s a “good story,” and they know it. There are lots of stories. It’s because Hollywood is about making money for Hollywood. That’s what they know about. That’s the story behind the story.

The same is true of Eugene city government. The policy position might seem to change, but the story behind the story is about money: keep “the money-stream.” It’s how they get paid. It’s how their friends get paid. …

Read More

City Deserves Trust

Posted on 14 May 201824 May 2018 by admin Posted in Letter Tagged Eugene Weekly, Rebecca La Mothe

In the May 14, 2018, online edition of the Eugene Weekly, Eugene resident Rebecca La Mothe writes:

While I do believe that we need a Eugene performance auditor, I will vote for the appointed city auditor Measure 20-287. Had the 2002 Charter Review Committee, Performance Auditor Proposal (also calling for an appointed auditor) been referred to the ballot for a public vote and passed, quite possibly some of the problems and “mistakes” in recent years could have been prevented.

Communication problems between the city manager and the City Council might have been more efficiently negotiated with outcomes more successful. It’s a cooperative relationship-affirming proposal that may have worked very well for the past 15 years, much like Measure 20-287 could be a positive move forward today. …

Read More

Posts navigation

Older posts

Contact

To contact us, please email (nospam).

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

©2017. All rights reserved.


Back To Top