Audit First. Tax Levy Second. Here's Why.

You've been told Rivergrove is on the brink of collapse, but the city's recent email says otherwise, and that's just the beginning of what doesn't add up.

The issue is whether residents should approve a new property tax before receiving basic financial transparency and accountability.

Importantly, the city's recent email directly states that it is not on the verge of bankruptcy. The alarming talk of Rivergrove "failing" and being absorbed by Lake Oswego is being used as a scare tactic, but the city's own words undercut that narrative.

The city's recent email also states that it "often can't afford legal opinions from the City Attorney when needed for Council decisions." Yet somehow, the council is choosing to spend an estimated $20,000 on a land use appeal, every Oregon citizen's right, and something the city could choose to settle or handle differently at any time. Additionally, the audit cost could have been half what it is now, had the city not delayed and played games with the Secretary of State's office.

Before agreeing to pay more, voters have every right to confirm that existing funds were handled properly. If the audit comes back clean, that actually strengthens the case for the levy and gives residents confidence their money will be well managed. If it doesn't, residents will have saved themselves from throwing good money after bad. And critically, the city's own email confirms what is not being said: the audit's purpose is to verify that spending was properly documented, approved, and compliant; exactly the kind of accountability residents are entitled to.

So the question isn't whether the city can afford an audit. It's why the council made choices that made accountability more expensive, and why they're spending scarce funds on legal fights they could walk away from, all while asking residents to simply trust them with more money. 

Please Vote!