McComb is entering the home stretch of budget season without one its principal financial figures.
Mayor Quordiniah Lockley confirmed Thursday morning that Finance Director Janice Dillon has resigned her position.
He insisted that Dillon’s absence will not significantly impact the city’s budgeting process, which must have numbers in place for a budget hearing at 5 p.m. Aug. 28, before that night’s regular board meeting, and have a final budget approved on or before Sept. 15.
The 2018-19 fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
“We have to have these things in place, and we will move on with the staff we have,” Lockley said.
He said Dillon’s position will be filled, despite a hiring freeze put in place by City Administrator Kelvin Butler to address a potential financial shortfall in the final months of the year.
Lockley said last week that the city might have only $1.5 million in the bank starting Oct. 1, with few revenues coming in through December, while the city typically spends $800,000 to $1 million per month.
Even with the freeze announced during Tuesday's board meeting, “the workforce level will be maintained,” Lockley said. “As part of that, we can fill this position. It was not an opening at the time.”
He said he could not give a timeframe for filling the position, because the Human Resources department will oversee the hiring process.
However, he said the announcement of the opening was released and sent out for advertisement Thursday, meaning applications could be submitted immediately.
He gave no reason for Dillon’s resignation, saying he could not publicly discuss personnel matters.
