Of the five candidates who applied by Monday evening’s deadline to be Columbus’ next chief financial officer, only one meets the minimum criteria in the city’s job advertisement, multiple sources confirmed.
The other applicants include a convenience store clerk and a manager for a mattress store, city officials said off the record. The Dispatch could not obtain specifics on the remaining two applicants by press time.
Still, city officials plan to begin interviewing candidates today, though none would confirm precisely how many would be considered.
The new CFO will replace Milton Rawle, who resigned in February amid an investigation into his management of city finances. He had worked for the city since 2013.
An ad, which the city ran with The Dispatch, posted on its own website and with the Mississippi Municipal League, says candidates for CFO are required to have an accounting degree from a four-year college or university and five years of experience in governmental accounting or financial management. The salary range for the position was advertised as between $70,000 and $75,000 per year, plus benefits.
Vanessa Carter, now the controller in Tunica County, is the only candidate who satisfies those minimum requirements. Another candidate, who will also be interviewed, meets the educational qualifications for the position but does not have the required experience, city sources said.
Carter did not return calls requesting comment by press time.
City councilmen expect to vote on a CFO candidate as early as their regular meeting Tuesday.
The city has operated at deficits totaling more than $1.7 million over the past two fiscal years, and projections from Mike Crowder — a certified public accountant who has performed CFO duties as a independent consultant since Rawle’s departure — show the city’s general fund will be $338,000 in debt by Sept. 30 at its current spending rate.
Councilman Bill Gavin, Ward 6, said he wants to know the city’s new CFO can manage the city’s finances, accurately project into future months and openly communicate with city officials about the city’s financial status.
“We have to have someone capable of … being able to advise the council and mayor,” he said. “It’s about making the projections. It all depends on who you get, but we need someone that can balance the budget and be a financial planner for the city.”
Councilman Joseph Mickens, Ward 2, said he wants to see any applicants for the position vetted “thoroughly” during the interview process so councilmen can be confident in the person they get to confirm.
“I know we’re in a bind right now with our current financial situation,” he said. “We need to get someone quick but we don’t want to rush it at the same time.”
Mickens said he didn’t want to speculate on why the pool of applicants was so small. When the city hired former CFO Milton Rawle six years ago, he was chosen from a pool of 65 applicants.
“I haven’t talked to people who didn’t apply, you know?” Mickens said. “So I really don’t know why.”
Mayor Robert Smith did not return multiple calls from The Dispatch by press time.
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