A Portland Auditor’s report released last year found the water bureau in violation of state law in its use of ratepayer money for items not related to the delivery of water.

Oregon law mandates utility rates only be collected to pay for activities or projects related service delivery and, according to Auditor LaVonne Griffin-Valade's office, the city attorney interprets that to mean customers are to only pay when they get something in return.

The Auditor’s report has spured in a ratepayer lawsuit against the water bureau: for an update KBOO’s Joe Meyer spoke with attorney John DeLorenzo.