Taxpayer Accountability

Follow the money. Respect the taxpayer.

Dr. Kahl believes government should be able to prove where public money goes, who receives it, and what results taxpayers are getting in return. Before asking families and small businesses for more, leaders should account for the money they already control.

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Transparency

Taxpayers deserve clear records, plain answers, and spending decisions that can withstand public review.

Results

Programs should be judged by measurable outcomes, not promises, slogans, or how much money was spent.

Responsibility

Families and small businesses should not be treated as a blank check for government waste.

Taxpayer Accountability Evidence

Taxpayer Waste, Ratepayer Abuse & Government Accountability

Oregon District 1 families are paying more in taxes, fees, and utility bills while too many public agencies cannot clearly prove where the money went, who was helped, or what results were achieved.

Taxpayer Accountability Taxes & Spending Local Representation Bottom-Up Leadership District 1

Clean Water Services: Published Monthly Charge

Source figure: FY 2025-26 rate schedule adopted by the CWS Board. Total estimated monthly charge rose from $65.00 to $66.95.

FY 24-25

$65.00

FY 25-26

$66.95

Source: CWS Rates

Oregon Municipal Audit Non-Filers

Source figure: Oregon Secretary of State FY 2024 summary. Bars show required audit reports not filed by the listed reporting year.

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

106

2024

114

Source: SOS FY 2024 Report

3% Clean Water Services FY 2025-26 sanitary sewer and surface water rate increase.

$1.95 Added to the total estimated monthly CWS residential charge in the adopted schedule.

18 Recommendations in Metro Auditor’s Supportive Housing Services audit.

~$800M Measure 110 funding awarded since 2021, according to the Oregon Secretary of State audit.

Clean Water Services Spending Controversy

Clean Water Services, the sewer and stormwater utility serving urban Washington County, came under scrutiny over executive spending, travel, meals, transparency, and governance. In 2025, the CWS Board directed an external audit, tighter food, travel, and executive spending rules, removal of executive purchasing cards, and stronger documentation.

Accountability Frame

Washington County families should not be asked to pay rising utility bills while public agencies face questions over executive spending and weak oversight.

Source: CWS Board Statement Source: CWS Forensic FAQ Internal: Taxpayer Accountability

Clean Water Services Rate Increase After Trust Concerns

Clean Water Services adopted a 3% FY 2025-26 increase for sanitary sewer and surface water management charges for customers receiving regional and local services. The published schedule shows the total estimated monthly charge rising from $65.00 to $66.95, a $1.95 monthly increase.

Accountability Frame

When families are squeezed by inflation, housing, healthcare, groceries, and utilities, every rate increase should come with clean books and strict spending rules.

Source: CWS Rate Schedule Internal: Taxes & Spending

Metro Supportive Housing Services Oversight Problems

Metro’s Supportive Housing Services program is funded by regional income and business taxes. Reporting on the Metro Auditor’s audit identified gaps in data collection, unclear county responsibilities, and inconsistent goals for measuring whether the tax is meeting voter expectations. Metro’s audit page states the audit included 18 recommendations.

Accountability Frame

Voters approved taxes to address homelessness. They deserve proof that the money is reducing homelessness, improving stability, and producing measurable results.

Source: OPB Audit Coverage Source: Metro Audit Page Internal: Local Representation

Measure 110 Addiction Spending With Unclear Outcomes

The Oregon Secretary of State’s December 2025 audit found Measure 110 lacked stability, coordination, and clear results. The audit says $391 million was awarded to Behavioral Health Resource Networks in 2025, and about $800 million has been awarded since 2021.

Accountability Frame

Compassion without accountability fails the people it claims to help. If Oregon spends hundreds of millions on addiction services, the state must prove who was helped and what worked.

Source: SOS Measure 110 Audit Source: OPB Measure 110 Coverage Internal: Bottom-Up Leadership

Local Governments Failing To File Required Financial Reports

The Oregon Secretary of State reported that 106 municipal corporations were more than a year late in filing FY 2023 audit reports. The FY 2024 summary later found 114 required audits, or 9.5%, were still not filed as of December 31, 2025. The FY 2024 report listed District 1-connected communities including Garibaldi, Gaston, North Plains, and Scappoose-related entities in filing tables.

Accountability Frame

Basic financial reporting should not be optional. If a local government or public district collects taxpayer or ratepayer money, the public deserves timely financial reports.

Source: SOS FY 2023 Release Source: SOS FY 2024 Report Source: Oregon Blue Book Internal: District 1