About the BDS Financial Advisory Committee

Information
The Bureau of Development Services' (BDS) Financial Advisory Committee reviews and provides feedback on the econometric forecasting models used to project bureau revenues and development activity in Portland. Expenditure projections are also reviewed.

In June 2010, the City Council directed the Office of Management and Finance to convene a committee of economic and commercial experts to review BDS’s financial projections and 5-Year Financial Plan, in order to determine the financial feasibility of replacing the automated permit tracking system currently used by BDS and other City development bureaus.

Since that time, the Financial Advisory Committee has continued to meet each year to review and discuss BDS’s financial projections and financial modeling methodology as part of BDS’s budget planning process. At those meetings we discuss and provide input on the current regional and national economic situation and weigh various options for BDS’s financial modeling process.  

The Financial Advisory Committee includes members with economic, real estate, and/or development background and expertise.