More Public Corruption In Tallahassee? | Tallahassee Appoints New Budget Director

Tallahassee Appoints New Budget Director

Tallahassee, FL – September 17, 2012

Tallahassee City Manager Anita Favors Thompson today announced the appointment of Heath Beach as Budget Director. Beach, who started in his new role last month, previously worked for the City of Jacksonville and Hillsborough County in budget-related roles. He most recently served as a policy and market consultant for an upstart alternative energy company based in North Carolina.

Beach will manage the Office of Budget and Policy (OBP) with a staff of seven and will be responsible for development and oversight of the City’s operating and capital budgets. The City’s current (FY 2012) operating budget is appropriated at $710.7 million with a capital budget of $151 million. With one additional public hearing to take place on September 19, the proposed FY 2013 budget is appropriated at $686 million with a proposed capital budget of $127.6 million. The new fiscal year begins October 1.

Beach served as Assistant Budget Officer for the City of Jacksonville’s Finance Department from 2007 to February of this year. His career in Jacksonville also included two years as a Management Analysis Officer. Before moving to Jacksonville, he served in various capacities with Hillsborough County from 1998-2005, including Senior Management Analyst in the Management and Budget Department. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies and a master’s degree in Public Administration, both from the University of South Florida. Beach is an affiliate member of the International City/County Management Association and Florida City/County Management Association, as well as a member of the Florida Government Finance Officers Association.

“We’re pleased and privileged to have Heath Beach lead our budgetary efforts,” said Raoul Lavin, director of the City’s Department of Management and Administration. “His professional portfolio includes overseeing the preparation and monitoring of a $2.2 billion budget in Jacksonville and an award-winning restructuring of that city’s capital improvement plan. As such, he brings a great deal of budget experience to Tallahassee at a time when local government budgeting is of paramount importance.”

The Office of Budget and Policy is a division of the City’s Department of Management and Administration. Beach will lead a staff of seven in the OBP.