Portland Bureau of Transportation

The Oregonian reports PBOT's then director Leah Treat signed off on hiring Millicent Williams, a candidate with felony conviction for her role in diverting funds from a non-profit she was leading. She started with a salary of $112,000 in January, 2017.[11] Williams plead guilty for "diverting $100,000 intended for youth programs to pay for a 2009 inaugural ball."[12]

In May 2017, Willamette Week first reported PBOT's maintenance leader has been abusing subordinates for six years by various forms of hazing such as shooting BBs and popcorn kernels at them.[13] The report obtained by the paper which was based on interviews with nine employees characterized the workplace culture at PBOT maintenance shop as a place of "violence, hazing and bigotry inside a shop that prizes loyalty and punishes "snitching."[13] The investigation was focused around a long time city employee Jerry Munson who was the crew leader for the "liner crew" maintenance branch. After learning of hazing, city officials transferred the "ring leader" and terminated one of the whistle blowers.[14]Half of employees interviewed reported unprofessional behaviors and the City of Portland failed to address them.[15] Local TV station KGW's Chris Wallace reports that a PBOT division leader's investigation of one of its crew leaders found "work place harassment, intimidation, discrimination, dishonesty, retaliation on the basis of sexual orientation and physical violence".[16]The hazing victim Adam Rawlins said between Augusts 2016 and December 2016, he had endured numerous pranks by other employees while he was working at PBOT. His lawsuit which sought $250,000 indicated that pranks included "being locked in a dark shed while being bound with duct tape and zip ties."[17] Consultants hired by the city to investigate the matter found that there is a "don't snitch" culture at PBOT.[18] The city settled with Rawlins for $80,000 citing "there is risk the city may be found liable."[18]

The parking enforcement division under PBOT enforces city's parking regulations per title 16 chapter 16.10 of city code.[19] A consultant report obtained by The Oregonian reported Parking Enforcement Division's method is "unprofessional and leaves room for “favoritism” and “illegal conduct"[20]

The bureau's total FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget is $376.0 million. Of that amount, the Capital Improvement Plan for FY 2016-17 totals $91.1 million[21] During FY 2014–15, the Bureau employed 749 staff members.[10] The managed assets totaled $8.4 billion in public assets from streets and bridges to traffic signals and street lights at the time Asset Status and Condition Report 2013 was published[22]

The Portland Bureau of Transportation has a roughly $309 million budget for FY 2014–15. The bulk of the money comes from year-to year carryover ($59 million), bonds and notes proceeds ($51 million), gas taxes ($62.7 million), contracts with other city agencies ($30.7 million), fees for permits and other services ($27.1 million) and parking meters ($25.4 million). Remaining sources included parking garages, the city's general fund, parking citations and local parking permits.[10]

The budget is then split into two categories: discretionary and restricted. Nearly two-thirds of the budget falls in the restricted category, meaning the Bureau must follow certain spending guidelines depending on where the money comes from.[23]

The Bureau's FY 2014–15 discretionary budget is $108.3 million in all. It was spent as follows: Operations ($28 million), maintenance ($27.9 million), overhead and administration ($14.5 million) and construction projects (11.3 million). Another $26 million was spent on various bureau programs, contingencies and reserves.[10][23]

The Bureau convenes a Budget Advisory Committee every year to help guide the budgeting process. Members for the committee are drawn from volunteers and a number of stake holder groups, including businesses, neighborhood coalitions, biking and pedestrian advocacy groups, senior groups and others.

The committee also takes public comment into account, which can be submitted at their meetings or by mail and email.[24]

The City of Portland pays $119,000 per month until late 2020 to cover for SoloPower's default on a loan the City guaranteed under Mayor Sam Adams in 2011. The money is taken out of Portland's Bureau of Transportation.[25][26] The Bureau of Transportation pays because parking-meter revenue was used as guaranty.[27]