San Bernardino to Fill Finance Director Position

LOS ANGELES — San Bernardino has chosen a new finance director after more than a year of vacancy in the position.

Brent Mason, who was Riverside's finance director until April 1, was selected by city staff on Friday.

His selection is expected to be confirmed by the City Council at its April 18 meeting.

The city's finance department has experienced a great deal of turnover since the city entered Chapter 9 bankruptcy in July 2012.

Scott Williams, the city's last finance director, left in March 2015 after just five months on the job.

He was the third to leave in three years.

Deputy City Manager Nita McKay, who was hired in fall 2014, resigned March 31.

Her position focused on finance - and she had worked with consultants.

The city hired three Urban Futures employees to work full-time on a contract basis in April 2013 to deal with vacancies in order to meet the demands for financial disclosure in the bankruptcy and get the city back on track with its own financial reporting.

It's been over a year since Urban Futures has filled that role; the financial advisory firm is only consulting on the bankruptcy at this point, said Michael Busch, chief executive officer of Urban Futures, Inc.

Nita McKay, the city's deputy city manager, resigned effective March 31.

San Bernardino city manager Mark Scott wasn't immediately available for comment.

Scott has been contemplating merging the deputy city manager and finance director position into one to make it a stronger position, according to local news reports.

The city recently reached an agreement in the bankruptcy with the bondholders and insurer on $51 million in pension obligation bonds.

The next status hearing on the bankruptcy is scheduled for April 27.

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