Portland bought a $300,000 software bundle to manage city devices, then purchased a second program for $700,000 to do the exact same task. A city audit found there was no citywide strategy for technology purchasing, leading to duplicative spending across bureaus.
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No Citywide Tech Purchasing Strategy
Bureau of Technology Services
Portland's city auditor found that individual bureaus frequently buy technology on their own without coordinating with the central Bureau of Technology Services. The nearly two-year audit review found this led to delays, overspending, and accessibility issues across city government.