$53 Billion and the Need For Accountability

Portland has managed tens of billions of dollars over the last eight budgets. The question we should be asking is simple: what did we achieve with it?

Over the current and past seven fiscal years, Portland has operated with approximately $53 billion in total budgets. Much of today’s political debate focuses on where public dollars should be spent, but I believe there is a more important question we need to ask: Are we getting enough value for the money we are already spending?

This is not a criticism of our City Auditor. The Auditor’s Office does important work with the staff and resources available to them, conducting focused audits of departments and specific issues. What I am proposing is broader. Portland needs a comprehensive evaluation of how the city is performing as a whole.

To understand the scale of this number, consider what $53 billion represents. That amount could purchase the 22 most valuable NHL franchises, several of the NBA’s most valuable teams, or every MLS and NWSL franchise combined with tens of billions of dollars still remaining.

These comparisons are not suggestions for how public money should be spent. They are simply a way to understand the size of the resources the City has managed over the current and past seven years.

The question is not whether every dollar was spent poorly. It is not whether every department has failed. The question is whether the outcomes we have achieved match the resources we have invested. A comprehensive audit gives us a way to answer that question with evidence instead of assumptions.

A citywide audit would also establish something Portland currently lacks: a clear baseline. It would give residents, city employees, and future city councils a better understanding of where resources are going, what outcomes those investments are producing, and where improvements can be made.

It would strengthen transparency, improve accountability, and help identify opportunities to better use existing resources before asking taxpayers for more.

Good government is not measured by how much money it spends. It is measured by the results it delivers. Before asking taxpayers for additional investment, we should be able to clearly explain what previous investments accomplished, where they fell short, and how we can do better moving forward.

That is why I believe Portland needs a comprehensive audit. When a city manages budgets of this size, residents deserve to understand where their money is going, what it is accomplishing, and how we can improve.

Having worked with budgets across different organizations, I understand that larger budgets create more complexity. As resources grow, so do the number of programs, departments, priorities, and decisions that need to be managed. Not every area will operate with the same level of efficiency, especially as priorities change, circumstances evolve, and leadership changes over time.

That is true of any large organization, including government.

I believe a comprehensive audit will identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce duplication, and make better use of existing resources. This is not about assuming government is failing. It is about recognizing that any organization managing tens of billions of dollars has a responsibility to regularly evaluate performance and look for ways to improve.

After managing approximately $53 billion over eight fiscal years, taking a comprehensive look at our performance is not extraordinary. It is responsible stewardship.

Portland residents deserve to know not only where their money went, but what results it achieved and how we can build a stronger, more effective city moving forward. This is why I support an audit.