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Bond Accountability Committee tells board 2012 bond near closeout but 2017/2020 still need reconciliation
Summary
The BAC reported improved communication with OSM and finds 2012 largely closed, while 2017 and 2020 require reconciliation amid rising costs and schedule pressure; BAC flagged missing items in new reporting forms—schedule, business equity participation and future project costs.
The Bond Accountability Committee (BAC) presented its October quarterly update to the Portland Public Schools board Dec. 2, saying the committee sees the 2012 bond program as essentially complete while noting 2017 and 2020 still need financial reconciliation.
Cara Turano, the BAC’s immediate past chair, told directors that Presidio’s new reporting templates were easier for staff but lacked three important pieces the BAC relies on: schedule information, business-equity participation data and projections for future project costs. "Most of our discussion centered on what was not included in the new forms," Turano said, and staff committed to provide those data points going forward.
Staff and BAC members attributed long open‑bond timelines to a mix of factors: COVID-era supply‑chain challenges, litigation (notably at Benson), limited original documentation for early bond cycles and inconsistent program-level planning. OSM interim leadership described a month‑by‑month reconciliation effort and noted historical reporting was largely manual and took staff weeks to compile.
Board members pressed for clearer internal controls, standard operating procedures for project closeout and improved software workflows so the BAC can fulfill its charter-level oversight role. The BAC offered to assist with targeted reviews of the Presidio proposal if the board requests it; the committee also signaled it may propose charter amendments to clarify its responsibilities.
The board heard the report, asked clarifying questions about project closeout definitions and internal controls, and directed staff to provide the additional schedule and equity details requested by the BAC.
