County Hires New Budget and Finance Director

Clatsop County County Manager, Scott Somers. has announced the appointment of Aaron BeMiller as the county’s new Budget and Finance Director.

BeMiller will join the county Aug. 1. His salary will be $93,252.

BeMiller is currently budget manager for Pierce County, Wash., a position he has held since 2007. Prior to that he worked in various finance positions with the City of Seattle from 2000. He has a Master’s of Public Administration degree from Seattle University. Pierce County serves a population of 808,000 people with a budget of  $884 million dollars and 28 departments. Retail trade and construction contribute about 52% of Pierce County’s sales and use tax receipts, according to its 2013 budget.

Clatsop County serves a population of 36,000 with a budget of $54.6 million dollars and 21 departments. Clatsop County’s property taxes account for 15% of its income, with State and Federal providing an additional 13%. Timber revenue brings in 6% of the County’s income.

“I’m excited to be joining Clatsop County, becoming part of the team and working with everyone there, and helping the county continue to be successful,” he said.

According to the Pierce County website the Pierce County Budget and Finance received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) in Chicago for its 2011 Budget. ‘The award represents a significant achievement by Pierce County,’ said Stephen J. Gauthier, GFOA spokesman. ‘It reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of government budgeting.’ The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 17,600 government finance professionals with offices in Chicago, Illinois and Washington, D.C.

Before working for Pierce County BeMiller served in a variety of fiscal and budget positions for the City of Seattle, including the court system, human services and Seattle Center.

BeMiller replaces Mike Robison, who stepped down in March as director of the county’s Central Services Department. Following Robison’s departure, the county initiated a reorganization of some administrative offices and functions that resulted in moving two services – Information Services and Building and Grounds – from Central Services to other departments, and changing the name of Central Services to Budget and Finance.

The Budget and Finance Department handles budget preparation and oversight, banking, payroll, revenue and expenditure monitoring and other fiscal duties.