Comprehensive Budget Reviews (CBRs)

CBRs are in-depth reviews of City departments. The reviews examine how departments operate, use resources and deliver services to identify opportunities to reduce costs, improve processes and strengthen employee capacity. The process brings together data, research and employee experience to develop recommendations for how departments can work better.

Review Process

The Office of Innovation leads these structured reviews in partnership with the Office of Management and Budget, the City Manager's Office and the departments under review.

Each review considers:

• How a department delivers services.
• How staffing and funding align with current needs.
• How programs and operations are organized.
• How processes, tools and resources support employees in carrying out their work.
• Where changes could improve performance or make better use of City resources.

Outcomes

Recommendations vary by department and may include changes to:

• processes and service delivery
• staffing and organizational structure
• budgets, revenues and resource allocation
• tools and support for employees

Together, these recommendations support Innovation's goals of identifying cost savings, improving City processes and enhancing employee capacity.

Innovation Academy also supports the CBR process by preparing City employees to apply skills in analysis, research, communication and process improvement to department reviews.