Aaron Feinstein Email & Phone Number

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

As an analyst in the Projections Unit of the Budget Analysis Division, help coordinate CBO's 10-year projections of federal spending. Contribute to various CBO publications including:• Drafting part of CBO's Budget Outlook that details the changes in CBO’s budget projections from baseline to baseline.• Conducted an evaluation of the accuracy of CBO’s historical projections of deficits and debt.• Create figures for the Monthly Budget Review and cost estimates.Other responsibilities include:• Conduct trainings on data analysis and data visualization and contribute to a guide for analysts on how to better use graphics in CBO products.• Create and update reports on how quickly funding related to addressing the coronavirus pandemic is being spent.• Analyze and project federal interest earnings.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Managed a team of faculty and staff working on various projects to improve the performance of City Colleges of Chicago. Projects included:• Analyzing student performance data to identify underperforming faculty, to evaluate the performance of remedial Math and English courses, and to determine whether the mid-term grades of first semester students are an early indicator of college graduation.• Developing a strategic plan to strengthen CCC's online learning programs.• Determining what programs should be offered at each of the seven City Colleges in order to help ensure that students are earning valuable education credentials while maintaining the accessibility of programs to students from across the City.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Managed, and supervised the office’s Program Review team consisting of three policy analysts who conducted independent, objective, non-partisan research on the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of City programs. Major Publications• Study that found the Police department could save millions of dollars through civilianization• 2012 Savings and Revenue Options report that detailed ways the City could cut spending or raise revenue.• Detailed description of the City’s collective bargaining agreements with its police officers and firefighters

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Increased the office’s focus on analyzing the efficiency and effectiveness of City programs by leading projects to research the efficiency of City programs resulting in numerous high-profile public reports. To better formalize this new function of the office, created the Program and Policy Review team with a staff of policy analysts to focus on research on the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of City programs.Also in this position, increased the transparency and accountability of the office by developing and publishing a quarterly report that summarizes the office’s investigations, audits, and program reviews, and increased the office’s focus on internal performance measurementMajor Publications• 2011 Budget Options report that detailed ways the City could cut spending or raise revenue.• Analysis of the efficiency of the City’s truck drivers that found that 200 positions were unnecessary to regular City operations and the City is required to continue using them only because of an overly restrictive labor contract. This inefficiency cost the City approximately $18 million per year.• 2010 Budget Options report that detailed ways the City could cut spending or raise revenue.• Review of the City’s Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise program, which found that the City exaggerated the amount of contracts that have gone to minority and women-owned businesses and that the program is poorly administered.• Evaluation of the City’s lease of its parking meters, which critiqued the lease and recommended improvements to how the City should evaluate future leases.

New York, New York, United States

Led the Budget Transparency Initiative, which successfully reformed the City budget to better present how the City spends its money. A prominent, nonpartisan watchdog group described the new budget presentation as making “important headway in presenting resources according to the key programs or services provided by each agency.”Additionally, analyzed, tracked, and evaluated $14 billion in annual TANF, Medicaid, and social service spending. Prepared Council Members and staff for Council budget hearings by conducting briefing meetings, presenting briefing papers, and preparing questions for the hearings

New York, New York, United States

Conducted research, prepared briefings, and produced reference guides on theories of budgeting, including performance-based and zero-based budgeting.Created a performance-based program budget template for New York City agencies.

Mpa, Policy Analysis

Ba, Urban Studies