Improving the accountability & transparency of city government
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.” …
In the December 7, 2017, issue of the Eugene Weekly, reporter Ted Taylor writes:
The question is no longer whether Eugene needs a performance auditor; it’s who that auditor will answer to. The group City Accountability has a measure on the May ballot for an independent, elected auditor, and the Eugene City Council is deciding whether it will add a competing measure for an appointed performance auditor on the ballot. …
In the November 22, 2017, issue of the Eugene Weekly, Eugene resident Robin Bloomgarden writes in a letter:
CityAccountability.org gathered 5,000 extra signatures within the 100 days allowed to put an elected independent auditor measure on the May 2018 ballot. …
In the November 22, 2017, issue of the Eugene Weekly, reporter Max Thornberry writes:
The Eugene City Council delayed on a motion to create an appointed independent office of the city auditor after a Monday, Nov. 20, work session that also included a presentation by the mayor’s performance auditor study group. …
In the November 16, 2017, issue of the Eugene Weekly, Portland resident Joe Daunt writes in a letter:
While I now live in Portland, I formerly lived in Eugene, and still follow events there. Kudos to those who gathered 13,000 petition signatures to establish an independent elected city auditor for Eugene.. …
In the November 16, 2017, issue of the Eugene Weekly, Eugene resident David Funk writes in a letter:
Having run a statewide initiative campaign I can attest to the fact that the petitioners who organized the campaign to gather signatures for an elected city auditor worked hard and deserve praise for their efforts. …
In the October 19, 2017, issue of the Eugene Weekly, staff write:
It looks like creating an elected, independent city auditor will be on the spring ballot in Eugene, thanks to volunteers who last week submitted nearly 13,000 signatures — far more than the required 8,090. Also last week, the mayor’s Auditor Study Group wrapped up its research into other cities and counties that have performance auditors. The group compared how a dozen governments hire, fire, supervise and fund auditors, how audit topics are chosen, etc. The group will report to the Eugene City Council in mid-November, without recommendations.
In the October 12, 2017, issue of the Eugene Weekly, staff write:
The group City Accountability announced it has gathered 13,000 signatures (only 8,090 were needed) to get a citizens’ initiative on the May 18 ballot to amend the Eugene Charter to establish an office of an independent, elected city auditor. The group turns in the signatures 11 am Thursday, Oct. 12, at the City Manager’s Office at the Lane County Public Service Building.
In the October 5, 2017, issue of the Eugene Weekly, staff write:
It’s time to sign! The deadline for collecting 7,000 valid signatures on a Eugene initiative petition to create an independent elected city auditor is Oct. 12. “We know auditing saves agencies money,” says Gary Blackmer, recently retired director of the Oregon Secretary of State Audits Division. “We calculated it all different ways at the Oregon Secretary of State Office, and looking at three-year averages we return about $5 for every $1 spent.” Sounds like a good deal to us. See details of the independent auditor proposal at CityAccountability.org.
In the September 14, 2017, issue of the Eugene Weekly, staff write:
The Democratic Party of Lane County Central Committee Meeting will host a Eugene performance auditor info session 6:30 pm, Sept. 21, at the Eugene Garden Club, 1645 High Street. Mayor Lucy Vinis’ performance auditor workgroup and City Accountability, the group that is pushing for an independent elected city auditor, will be presenting and taking questions.