PORTLAND, Ore. (Portland Tribune) — Portland could move against problem properties — including “zombie homes” — more efficiently under a long overdue reform to be considered by the City Council on Wednesday.

Portland City Auditor Mary Hull Caballero has proposed streamlining the city’s foreclosure process. The reform was first recommended in a 2012 performance audit of the city’s liens, collections, and foreclosure processes.

The audit found too many agencies were involved in citing owners of problem properties and compelling them to either fix the up or face foreclosures. The ordinance introduced by Hull Caballero would remove her office from the process, allowing properties recommended for foreclosure by the Bureau of Development Services to move directly to the Revenue Division of the Bureau of Revenue of Financial Services for collection — and then to the council for final foreclosure approval, if all else fails.

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“The notable benefit of consolidating the assessments and foreclosure process under one roof is better communication with and ease of navigation for property owners affected by it. They no longer will have to bounce from bureau to office to bureau as their lien moves through the recording and payment process,” said Hull Caballero.

A multi-part investigation undertaken by the Portland Tribune in 2016 documented the problems caused by neglected and abandoned properties in Portland neighborhoods. It also highlighted the overly complex process for compelling owners to fix their properties or, in cases where they are abandoned, seizing them through foreclosing and selling them to more responsible owners.

The series prompted former Mayor Charlie Hales to convince the council to adopt some reforms in June 2016. But he did not propose removing the auditor’s office from the process, despite the 2012 performance audit.

Even with the limited reach of Hales’ reforms, the city significantly increased the number of foreclosures after they were enacted. No homes had been foreclosed on in previous decades, regardless of how many problems they were causing. But by last August, 68 properties had been proposed for foreclosure, and 17 had been approved by the council. The city had recovered $1.96 million on 44 of the properties, and many had been fixed up or replaced with new homes.

Hull Caballero predicts her proposed reforms will result in even more action.

“For the city, a streamlined process ensures that the broad expertise that exists in the Bureau of Revenue and Financial Services can benefit this program as well,” said Hull Caballero.