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~ - _ _ <br /> LOCAL GOVERNMENT CENTER 1201 COURT STREET N.E., P.O.BOX12729, SALEM, OREGON 97309-0729, (503)585-83` <br /> August 28,"1998 - _ . <br /> _ _ . <br /> John Lattimer - _ . <br /> Director ~ Audits Division <br /> _ _ <br /> Public Services Bwldmg _ <br /> _ _ <br /> 255 `Capitol St NE; Suite 500 - ~ ~ <br /> Salem, OR 97310 ~ " <br /> . <br /> _ - . _ <br /> Dear John: , ~ ~ _ . <br /> The~Association of Oregon Counties provided copes of the draft `of the local Agencies`Use <br /> of Highway Funds Performance;Audit to the ten counties included in ~the~ audit: Comments <br /> were-.received by~our office from .eight of the counties.`SThe Public Works Directorfrom <br /> Deschutes County has not had an opportunity fo ~reyiew'the document as he i_s on , . <br /> vacation. We~have received no comments from Douglas County.._ In addition, our staff,has <br /> reviewed the Audit and we discussed the Summary and.Recommendationsjwith the . <br /> members of the Public Works Division of the Oregon Association of~County.Engineers end <br /> _ <br /> Surveyors at their monthly meeting on August.27 We provided your,off~ce with a <br /> compilation of the comments from these various reviews which resulted in'some changes <br /> in the. final report. The following comments are based on a very brief review of the final <br /> report. We reserve the opportunity to provide additional comments to the Joint Legislative <br /> Audit Committee when we have been able to make a more complete review of the final <br /> audit. <br /> In general we believe the audit provides a positive report on the activities of the counties <br /> in respect to their highway related activities..There are recommendations for changes we <br /> believe will be helpful to further improve our operations. <br /> We would like to provide some comments on the Summary and Recommendations that <br /> may help reviewers better understand our operations as they relate to the <br /> recommendations. <br /> A. Recommendation en Reporting of State Highway Funds. <br /> Throughout the -report there~are many references to the Loca/ Roads and Streets ~ + <br /> Questionnaire. It seems appropriate to comment on the Questionnaire and its background. <br /> This Questionnaire is designed based on information requested by the Federal Highway <br /> Administration. It is to include all revenues used by a jurisdiction for road, highway and <br /> bridge purposes. State Transportation Departments are provided a "Guide to Reporting <br /> Highway Statistics" which is the basis for the Oregon form. It is possible to request more <br /> detail on a particular item but it needs to relate to the Federal guidelines. In fact over the <br /> years, a variety of clarifications and modifications have been made to this report in an <br /> effort to obtain comparable data from the reporting jurisdictions. In making any changes <br /> to the Questionnaire the process would need to involve cities, counties, ODOT and FHWA. <br /> B. Recommendation to Specifically Identify State Highway Fund Expenditures. <br /> <br /> i <br /> <br />