Looks like Emily's attorney convinced her to empty the account of everything left and return it....but the taxpayers are out the other 70 grand plus fines. No way we will ever see another cent. Nice program Erik.

I still want to know this - if the money's kept in an interest-bearing account, who gets to keep the interest?

Facing a looming shortfall in City finances, bloggers have begun issuing demands that City Auditor Gary Blackmer launch an investigation into how the City Council is planning to use Boyles' Free Money.

Rumors are flying around City Hall, some of them fanciful and others more credible.

Opie is said to be getting $5,000 Invisaligns. Fireman Randy is in line to receive a titanium attache case containing a gross of Snickers. Steely Dan is planning a long-delayed Las Vegas getaway. A city official speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that Gramps may have already made a commitment to pay overdue rent for a friend or relative in a neighboring state.

Alone among Council members, Sam the Tram [rimshot] is said to be furiously lobbying his colleagues to cancel their special spending plans, as a new cost-over run report for an obscure City aerial transportation project is about to be released that could threaten already-thin City finances.

Hey! I didn't see anything in the rules about not going over, just being the closest... I guessed $69,000.68, which is only $435.67 off from what has been turned in so far. :-)

Bloggers are demanding Blackmer launch an investigation into how the money returned will be spent? Hell's belles...that's a pittance compared to what he should be investigating.

I'd say that's probably just about enough for Blackmer to avert his eyes and keep his mouth shut. Like he has been since he was elected.

It's nice to dream that, perhaps...one day...maybe...we'll elect somebody to the Auditor's office that knows what they're doing and actually represents the interests of the electorate.

Wasn't Michael closer at $69,000.68?

Michael appears to have a valid point. But wouldn't it make sense to wait for the 12/31/07 "final deadline" just to make sure? Given her track record I'm sure that Emily will make every effort to come up with more. Who can say? Maybe Erik and Larry will pass the hat or something.

That should read "...Erik and Gary..."

I'm betting it shows up as an obscure, hidden item in the tram budget..a loan to Emilie to pay it off....Sams payola to Eric and Gary for their support.....I mean really, whats a mere 70k in a 15M...I mean 30M...wait...its more...oh well...an ever INCREASING budget......

Sam the Tram want to apply the Boyle's money to his $50 million erection.

If I were Emilie I'd pay a visit to a good bankruptcy attorney. There are some issues here that might be worth litigating in an adversarial proceeding.

I've said it before and I'll say it again:

No erection is worth $57 million, even a linchpin erection.

It appears that my nearly $5,000 difference was bested by Michael's nearly $500 difference.

I must say I am shocked. Over $68k returned? I wonder how much has been spent on the inquiry.

I announced the winner in haste, while blogging from the road under bad conditions. Now I see that Ellie is not in fact the closest at this point, and that the contest is not yet over. Being that I've already promised Ellie a lunch, however, she gets one, and Michael is in the lead for one as well.

Note, however, that if Emilie Dearest winds up in bankruptcy, the payment she made to the city could conceivably be voided, in which case the city would have to share those funds with other people to whom she owes money.

And as announced previously (in comments), the contest isn't over until Dec. 31, 2007, or sooner if there's clear closure of the issue before then.

Meanwhile, I have asked Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers to investigate.

A person could starve waiting until 12/31/2007 for lunch! :-)

Hey now, Jack, I'm not holding you to that. Besides, I hope to be as some distant (but undetermined) law school by that date. Woo!