Form of Government: City Organization and Budgeting

Developing recommendations for a new reporting structure

In February 2023, City Council adopted Resolution 37609 to provide additional structure, role clarity, and direction implementing the transition changes. The resolution directed the Chief Administrative Officer to work with bureau leaders and council offices to develop a new organizational structure that will report to the new city administrator role. From April to August 2023, the CAO convened a team of city leadership and subject matter experts across several areas to conduct programmatic assessments and identify areas of alignment and opportunities to improve the City’s ability to serve the needs of Portland residents. 

Transitioning to a mayor-council form of government with a city administrator allows for a whole-city approach to systems and problem-solving. The City’s 26 bureaus and offices will be under the leadership of a city administrator that reports to the mayor. 

View full size image of An organization chart with six boxes that say deputy city administrator. Above it are connected boxes showing how the city administrator will report to the mayor.

On Nov. 1, 2023, council adopted the new organizational chart, and now the focus is on implementation. The changes will start to go into effect in the new fiscal year, July 2024, and the new organizational structure will be in place by Jan. 1, 2025. 

Read more about the approved organizational structure.  

View full size image of Three people sit at a table. In front of them are four people seated on a dais. Behind them is a beige wall with a City of Portland sign.

Updating the City’s budgeting process

Throughout summer 2023, the City Budget Office convened a workgroup of bureau finance managers from across the City to advise on recommended changes to the budget development process. The recommendations build on existing work as directed through budget notes in the FY 2023-24 Adopted Budget and considered opportunities for improvement tied to a more centralized executive.  

The workgroup agreed on several improvements to the budget process, including:  

• Providing earlier information on preliminary assumptions that inform economic forecasting and financial plans across all funds.  
• Connecting the budget process to a citywide long-term strategic plan.  
• Connecting budget decisions more robustly to City priorities and outcome measures.  
• Contextualizing and monitoring General Fund changes and investments as a multi-year endeavor.  

Starting with the development of the FY 2025-26 budget, the city administrator and deputy city administrators will lead the development of the budget process. The city administrator will work with the mayor to develop the proposed budget for council approval. 

Read the full report summarizing the team’s progress throughout 2023.

View individual sections of the report

• Annual Report Overview
• Election Methods
• Form of Government: City Organization and Budgeting
• Form of Government: Elected Officials
• Charter Transition Budget
• Looking Forward to 2024