Byrd bids farewell to county finance department
Published 6:00 pm Wednesday, March 28, 2018
- Star File Photo Christa Byrd, shown here during a County Commission meeting, served her last day as Carter County Finance Director on Wednesday.
Wednesday marked a changing of the guard as Carter County Finance Director Christa Byrd served her last day in her position with the county.
Byrd announced her resignation as finance director earlier this month to members of the Financial Management Committee. In her announcement, Byrd said she has accepted another position which will allow her to spend more time with her family.
Byrd’s Deputy Finance Director Michael Kennedy will serve as the county’s Interim Finance Director until a new director is chosen.
“I want to thank my staff for all of their hard work and the support they have given me,” Byrd told the Elizabethton Star on Wednesday. “I am leaving the office in Michael’s capable hands until a new director is selected.”
“I also want to thank the members of the Financial Management and Budget Committees for their support,” she added. “They have been great to work with.”
Members of the Financial Management Committee have already begun searching for Byrd’s replacement. A total of 22 individuals submitted resumes for consideration, and committee members met earlier this week to review the applications. Byrd said Kennedy was not among the individuals applying for the director’s position.
“They have picked the top three to bring in for interviews,” Byrd said of the committee. “They will bring them in on April 4 for the interviews.”
The committee will meet again on April 9 to vote on the selection of a new finance director.
“The goal is to have the new director start on the 23rd (of April),” Byrd said. “That is the hope, depending on what kind of notice they have to give.”
Whoever the new director is, Byrd said he or she will have to hit the ground running.
“If they start on the 23rd, that will be in the middle of the budget hearings,” Byrd said. “Soon after that, they will have to begin the process of closing out the fiscal year. But, Michael will be here to show them the specifics.”
Members of the Budget Committee will hold their first budget hearing for requests in the 2018-19 fiscal year budget on Monday, April 2.
