Weslaco finance director resigns | weslaco, director, finance ...

WESLACO?The search is on for a new finance director after its money manager, Bret Mann, submitted his resignation Wednesday.

Olivares announced the departure to staff Thursday morning. Mann will officially remain the finance director until Feb. 1, but because he had leave available, his last day was Friday.

Mann is the third finance director Weslaco has had in the past two years. The city has faced a tumultuous financial challenge during that time and pursued cost saving techniques that included widespread staff cuts.

?That was one of the reasons I took the position, kind of as a challenge, to see if I could get the city back on path and I think we are,? Mann said.

At a presentation to city commissioners Jan. 3, Mann touted the city?s approximately $825,000 general fund balance when the fiscal year ended Sept. 30?up from negative numbers the year before?and said the city would be about $3.3 million in the hole without changes they had made in city practices.

City Manager Leo Olivares called Mann ?a key component of our Weslaco transformation? and said he was sorry to see him go. He said he hopes to find someone else with comparable experience.

?He?s more of a CFO and he brought that mentality to the position,? Olivares said. ?He?s really upped the game as far as financial management.?

Weslaco began advertising Friday for a new director. Because the position is that of an employee rather than an officer of the city, its selection is up to Olivares. He said he would be looking for applicants with, at minimum, an accounting degree and at least three years of experience in public accounting.

Mann said his departure did not stem from any problems with the city but from a decision to pursue an opportunity in the private sector.

?It?s one of those things where I don?t want to be kicking myself later for not doing it, not trying it,? he said.

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Elizabeth Findell covers Pharr, San Juan, Alamo, the Mid-Valley and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at efindell@themonitor.com or (956) 683-4428.

Source: http://www.themonitor.com/news/weslaco-58134-director-finance.html

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