Good Government Hotline

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Report online.

Not sure if what you saw or heard is fraud? Ask us a question.

Follow up on a report.

On a mobile device? Report using the mobile-friendly website.

The County Auditor's Good Government Hotline gives county employees and the public a confidential way to report:

• Suspected fraud, waste, inefficiency, and abuse of position.
• Issues where an employee’s conduct broadly affects the integrity, efficiency, or effectiveness of County government.
• Retaliation that appears to be based on a report submitted to the hotline.

What are fraud, waste, and abuse of position in County government?

Fraud includes theft, embezzlement, and misuse of County resources. Waste includes needless or extravagant spending, and abuse of position is when an employee uses their County position for personal gain. Examples include:

• Fraud and theft

  • Theft of client or County property or assets. 

  • Theft of cash, or other funds, including funds intended for service recipients or those in County jail facilities.

  • Theft or unauthorized removal of County records or property or the property of others.

  • Falsification of records such as travel and other expense vouchers.

  • Theft of County equipment.

  • Manipulation of financial statements or records.

  • Creating and paying a fictitious employee.

  • Other theft of County resources. 

• Waste

  • Purchase of unneeded supplies or equipment. 

  • Purchase of goods at inflated prices. 

  • Gross mismanagement of County resources or property. 

  • Failure to reuse or recycle major resources or reduce waste generation. 

  • Other careless, needless, or extravagant expenditures. 

• Abuse of Position

  • Outside employment that conflicts with County position.

  • Using influence of position to gain County business for self, friend, or family member. 

  • Personal use of County goods or services. 

  • Obtaining a benefit or service from the County for which an employee does not qualify.

  • Providing a benefit or service to someone for which they do not qualify.

  • Unauthorized reduction of fines or fees.

  • Soliciting or accepting a bribe or kickback.

  • Other use of County position to obtain personal gain or benefit.

Have something to report?

You can report your concern 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When you call or submit a report, please be as detailed as possible, including names, dates, locations, and witnesses. The Good Government Hotline allows you to make reports online or by speaking to a trained professional by phone. Your report is taken by a neutral third party; it is not taken by County management. Hotline staff report to the County Auditor, who reports to voters and not to County management.

• Report online

• Call 888-289-6839

The Good Government Hotline maintains the confidentiality of the reporter. According to Oregon hotline law, your right to confidentiality is protected, even if you provide your name and/or contact information. Typically, investigations are more effective if we are able to follow up with you, but if preferred, you can report anonymously.

If you choose to report anonymously, we can communicate with you through the online reporting tool. After you submit your report, you will be given a report key, password, and instructions for using the website to follow up. Please print or write down the report key, password, and instructions, so that you can check back on the complaint.

Filed a report and want to know what happened?

In some cases, we will be prohibited by law or policy from discussing what we found. Please contact us, and we will fill you in as much as possible about the status of your report. You can contact us through the Ethics Point system, using the key and passcode for your report, or you can call our office directly at 503-988-3320. 

Do you want to report a personnel issue?

The Hotline is not the appropriate resource for reporting personnel issues (difficulties with a co-worker or boss, employee tardiness, etc). If you wish to report a personnel issue, please follow established Human Resources and Labor Relations policies and procedures.

Do you want to report discrimination, harassment, or retaliation?

Complaints of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation not related to a prior hotline report should be directed to Human Resources, the COO, or the Protected Class Complaints Investigation Unit. 

Do you want to report an unpermitted use or disclosure of protected health information?

Reports of unpermitted uses or disclosures of protected health information subject to HIPAA may be submitted to the County Privacy Officer by email: privacy@multco.us.

Still have questions about the Good Government Hotline?

To learn more about how the Hotline works and why it is important to report, please take a look at the Good Government Hotline Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page. To learn more about the types of concerns appropriate for the Hotline, see the Reportable Incidents and Definitions page. Or call our office at 503-988-3320. 

Would you like a member of the Auditor's Office to give a Good Government Hotline presentation to your team?

Presentations, including time for discussion and questions, can take 30-60 minutes, depending on the needs and interests of your group. In addition to attending staff meetings, the Auditor's Office can also come out for brown bag lunch sessions.  To schedule a presentation, please follow your department's procedures for getting management approval for the presentation, then complete this form. Please provide at least two week's notice prior to your meeting date.