Client/Organization: City of Portland Budget Office

Date/Duration: 2024

The Challenge

EQ partnered with the City of Portland during an historic transition in governmental structure to provide in-depth analysis and a path forward for their budgeting process. The City of Portland engaged EQ Collaborative to assist with creating plans and recommendations for transitioning the City from unified to separated executive and administrative functions. Specifically, the City’s budgeting processes needed to be revamped.

Our Approach

Through research, analysis, and the knowledge and expertise of collaborators, EQ identified areas for improved efficiency, structure, and community engagement in budget planning, adoption, and monitoring. Our services included:

• Organization Assessment and Budget and Finance Staffing Analysis

• Conducted thorough analysis of existing processes, staffing, and structures.

• Identified optimal roles, responsibilities, and reporting structures for budget staff across bureaus.

• Stakeholder Interviews and Engagement

• Interviewed 37 stakeholders, including community groups, operational staff, and service area leaders

• Documented and incorporated these diverse perspectives into new recommendations.

• Comparative Analysis

• Identified peer cities with similar organizational structures as the City of Portland.

• Conducted comparative analysis between City of Portland and peer cities, focusing on key facets of budget and organization.

• Highlighted best practices from peer cities and adaptable solutions.

• Future Budget Process Recommendations

• Developed a streamlined budget cycle process to align with strategic planning and operational efficiency goals.

• Recommended staffing models and budget process improvements.

• Provided tools and methods for enhancing budget transparency and aligning budget decisions with community values.

• Transition Report, Implementation Timeline, and Strategic Roadmap

• Created a comprehensive transition report.

• Detailed findings and recommendations for a revised budgeting and finance structure.

• Outlined a phased implementation plan with recommended staffing models and budget process improvements and with immediate, near-term, and medium-term steps to guide Portland’s budget process transformation.