Durangos Chief Financial Officer, who gave up the role of position in Florida

City is recognized for excellent benefits in financial reporting

The CFO of Durango, Devon Schmidt, leaves her role in the city after taking another CFO position in St. Pete Beach, Florida.

The city administrator José Madrigal announced the departure of Schmidt after reporting that the city received a certificate of service for outstanding benefits in financial reporting by the Officer's Association for Financial Reports.

The award is “the highest honor in state accounting and financial reporting,” said Schmidt in her presentation.

Madrigal said Schmidt started with the city at the end of 2019 after a embezzlement scandal that damaged the trust of the public and morality of the employees.

He said Schmidt quickly entered to help the city's finance department for an award -winning team that received nationwide and national recognition for his financial reporting.

The city council of Durango approved its constant status as a CFO in August 2023 after she officially occupied the acting title in April 2023.

Said Schmidt The Durango Herald The city's budgeting documents were included in a textbook for public budgeting as examples of clarity and effectiveness by California State University, and the Colorado Department of Local Affairs uses the city as a model for budgeting guidelines “Colorado Budget Law Basics for Local governments”.

When it became CFO, the top financial priorities of the city were “rebuilt trust and financial supervision”. The financial department was working on improving internal controls to prevent further mismanagement of public funds and worked with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation Audits.

Since 2022, the city has achieved the GFOA Distinguished Budget Award with outstanding recognition and the certificate of service for excellent financial reporting, she said.

She added the city's 2023 Finance Audit, which did not achieve any results, a “essential achievement that proves strong financial management and compliance with compliance”.

Her proudest achievements include a cultural change within the city's finance department with a focus on cooperation, accountability and continuous improvement. She said that the greatest challenges of the finance department since 2019 were the restoration of public trust, the compensated complex audits with daily operations and the strengthening of financial policy for long -term sustainability.

“Today Durango's finances are stronger, more transparent and well managed than at the beginning,” she said. “The next CFO will inherit a powerful team and a system and develop for long -term success.”

Despite Schmidt's success with the city of Durango, it is time for her to continue, she said.

“My family and I always had an affinity for Florida. Moving has given a long -term goal. Sometimes opportunities come earlier than expected, and this was one of these moments, ”she said. “The opportunity to act as a financial director for St. Pete Beach was an ideal next step professionally and personally.”

The move will enable Schmidt to continue meaningful work in government financing and at the same time to fulfill a lifelong dream, she said.

“While I will miss the Durango team deeply, I am looking forward to this new chapter and am confident that the city's financial department will continue to thrive,” she said.

Schmidt's last day with the city of Durango is Friday. The city commissioned Cheryl Turney, which began on Monday, to act as a preliminary CFO. Schmidt works with Turney this week to help with the transition, said Tom Sluis, spokesman for the city.

Turney has more than 35 years of experience in financial management and procurement of the local government, he said. Previously, she had managed positions such as the deputy financial director for the city of college station in Texas and the procurement manager of the San Jacinto River Authority in Texas.

cburney@durangoherald.com

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