City's finance director departs for Sparks job

Tom Minton, head of the Carson City Finance Department, has left to take a similar position with the city of Sparks.

The primary reason is calculable: Better pay. And the economy "is expected to boom up there," because of the large number of development and redevelopment projects, said Minton, 54.

With more money comes more responsibility: Minton will be the boss of 28 employees who handle accounting, purchasing and revenue functions for Sparks. He supervised 11 workers in Carson City who handled finance, risk management and purchasing and contracts.

Nickolas Providenti is Carson City's acting finance director.

"He's a real smart guy," Providenti said about his former boss.

He also said he hopes the position will be filled by the beginning of the year, when major work on the city's 2007-08 budget is scheduled to begin.

Main financial operations for Nevada cities are governed by state statute, but there are a few differences because Carson City is a combined city-county and Sparks is a city within Washoe County - and has different financial reporting and management requirements.

Carson's treasury functions are supervised by an elected official, Al Kramer. Minton will oversee these functions for Sparks because it doesn't have that type of county function, Providenti explained.

Recruitment has begun for applicants, said City Manager Linda Ritter.

On the job search Web site Careerbuilder.com, the position is being advertised with an annual salary between $85,000 and $105,000.

The ad describes the position as, "executive responsibility for the financial operations of the city, including budget, capital planning, financial planning, financial reporting, general accounting, payroll, debt management, and development of financial policies. The position is also responsible for the risk management and purchasing functions."

Minton worked 121Ú2 years for Carson City. He was named finance director in late 2003, replacing David Heath, from the position of deputy finance director.

He took the job at a difficult time for the city financially, while tax revenues were down after both Kmart and Wal-Mart had shut down. Minton said in February that good solid revenue sources make the planning aspects of his job easier.

He was hired initially as the city's deputy controller.

Minton, a Carson City resident, reports for work in Sparks on Nov. 20.

"I'm taking a week off," he said Thursday, his last day.

• Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.