January 30, 2019

Audit of Oregon’s Framework for Regulating Marijuana

January 30, 2019/ Press Release

Salem, Ore. — Today, Secretary of State Dennis Richardson released an audit examining how Oregon regulates marijuana, a responsibility shared by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC). Auditors found gaps in the state’s developing regulatory framework that increase the risk of legal marijuana being diverted to the black market and out-of-state. Auditors also found the state must do more to protect public health and improve laboratory testing by considering more robust testing requirements, enhancing oversight, and ensuring labs meet accreditation standards.

January 09, 2019

SOS Richardson Audits Oregon Department of Education

January 09, 2019/ Press Release

SALEM, OR — The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and Portland Public Schools (PPS) must do more to evaluate costs and eliminate persistent barriers to student performance at struggling, high-poverty schools.

December 20, 2018

SOS Richardson Provides an Update on ODOT Audit

December 20, 2018/ Press Release

SALEM, OR — Today [12/18/18], the Secretary of State released a report stating that the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has made some progress implementing the recommendations made in Report 2017-18, “The Oregon Fuels Tax System Accurately Assesses and Collects Fuels Taxes for State and Local Jurisdictions.”

December 19, 2018

Oregon Could Close $623M Budget Gap Without New Taxes

December 19, 2018/ Press Release

Today, the Secretary of State audit team and I released an audit showing that adoption of a statewide eProcurement system (such as OregonBuys) could have potentially produced more than a billion dollars in savings if it had been in use during the last biennium. If quickly implemented statewide, savings of this magnitude could close Oregon’s 2019-21 budget gap without raising taxes.

February 21, 2018

Richardson Releases Audit of Dept of Revenue

February 21, 2018/ Brian Gailey

Today, Oregon Secretary of State Dennis Richardson released an audit of the Oregon Department of Revenue (DOR). The audit found that DOR has accomplished its goals of implementing sufficient controls in their GenTax computer system to provide reasonable assurance that tax return and payment information remains complete, accurate, and valid.

January 31, 2018

SOS Richardson Releases Audit of Foster Care

January 31, 2018/ Brian Gailey

Today, Secretary of State Dennis Richardson released an audit on the Department of Human Services (DHS) and Child Welfare management. The audit found that DHS has been slow and indecisive in responding to a growing foster care crisis, which has increased risks to the children the system was created to serve.

December 21, 2017

Richardson Releases Alternative Education Audit

December 21, 2017/ Brian Gailey

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) has not focused on improving education for at-risk students in alternative and online schools and programs, though these programs account for nearly half the state’s high school dropouts, according to an audit released today by the Secretary of State’s office.

The alternative education audit follows an audit released Tuesday that examined Oregon’s low graduation rates and academically at-risk students in traditional high schools.

December 19, 2017

Richardson Releases High School Graduation Rate Audit

December 19, 2017/ Brian Gailey

Today, the Oregon Secretary of State’s Audits Division released an audit of the Oregon Department of Education (ODE). ODE provides oversight and support to individual schools and school districts in Oregon’s public K-12 education system. The audit found ODE should improve its practices and support to districts and schools to reduce the risk of students not graduating within four years. The findings are outlined in the report entitled: “The Oregon Department of Education Should Take Further Steps to Help Districts and High Schools Increase Oregon’s Graduation Rate.”

November 02, 2017

OHA Discloses Over $74 Million Wasted on Improper Payments

November 02, 2017/ Brian Gailey

SALEM, OR — Today, Secretary of State Dennis Richardson released the following statement:

"I have stated in the past that, from my conversations with citizens across the state, one thing is clear: Oregonians want increased accountability for how their tax dollars are spent. That’s why, on May 17, 2017, my office released our first Audit Alert, notifying the Oregon Health Authority of immediate concerns uncovered during our ongoing audit.

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