City Finance Director To Retire

Sarasota's Finance Director Chris Lyons will retire later this year due to health reasons after working for the city for 25 years.

The city announced Lyons' retirement in a press release Wednesday morning, just two days after Lyons guided commissioners through the final approval process of the 2012-13 fiscal year budget.

“I want to express my deep and sincere appreciation to Chris for guiding the 2012-13 budget through to adoption and working through some tough financial times and personal times,” said City Manager Tom Barwin in a prepared statement.  “He’s a talented and dedicated individual and just in the short time I’ve been here I know he will be sorely missed.” 

Lyons will continue to work at City Hall for at least 60 days and has offered to assist with the transition process when his successor is hired. 

“I’ve been blessed to have this job,” Lyons said.“Over the years, I’ve enjoyed working with many City Commissioners, several City Managers, numerous employees and countless passionate citizens.  I have learned many things from working with this diverse group.  Most of all, City Commissioners have been supportive during good times and difficult times and I appreciate that.” 

Each budget for the last 23 years in Sarasota has been prepared at some level by Lyons, according to the city. Each of those 23 budgets received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award by the Government Finance Officers Association.

For the past five years, Lyons served as finance director and held the acting finance director, deputy finance director and budget director posts. When he first joined the city in 1987, he was the accounts/payroll manager.

Lyons worked as a Certified Public Account in the private sector in the State of New York and State of Florida prior to working with Sarasota.

“I have known and worked with Chris for the past four years,” Mayor Suzanne Atwell said in a prepared statement. “First of all, he is an extraordinary person. He has navigated the City's budget and finances for many years with integrity, patience, and dedication. His commitment to the fiscal health and welfare of this City is only surpassed by the long hours he spends at City Hall to that end. The greater community of Sarasota has been served well by Chris Lyons' long tenure.  He defines what public service really means. I will miss him."  

Lyons is a Certified Government Finance Officer in Florida as well as a Certified Public Finance Officer.  This past summer he concluded a one year term as President of the Florida Government Finance Officers Association. He served as President of Southwest Florida Government Finance Officers Association in 2004-2005.

A national search will be launched soon to hire a new finance director, according to the city.