Lawmakers press ODOT on budget error, staffing and corrective audits; agency outlines fixes and outside reviews

The Joint Committee on Transportation held an informational meeting March 18 to examine oversight and accountability at the Oregon Department of Transportation after the agency disclosed a budget cash‑flow error in late 2023. Committee members heard from ODOT Director Chris Strickler and Principal Internal Auditor James Hansling about corrective steps, audit findings and planned reforms.

Why it matters: Lawmakers said the agency’s budget and project delivery performance affects maintenance of state roads and the size of future funding requests. Committee leaders said they want assurance that future revenue forecasts and project estimates will be accurate before asking voters or the Legislature for new revenue.

Audit and error: ODOT officials told the committee the agency’s finance and budget division discovered an error in the department’s cash‑flow model at the end of 2023 and publicly disclosed the issue to the Oregon Transportation Commission in May 2024. The department then reorganized budget functions into a single finance and budget division and asked internal audit to review corrective actions.

James Hansling, ODOT’s principal internal…