Summary

King County Executive Dow Constantine today appointed longtime Seattle finance director Dwight Dively to head the King County Office of Management and Budget and lead reforms in the development of the county budget and long-term financial plans.

Story

King County Executive Dow Constantine today appointed longtime Seattle finance director Dwight Dively to head the King County Office of Management and Budget and lead reforms in the development of the county budget and long-term financial plans.

“Dwight has a well-deserved national reputation for managing budgets and improving bond ratings, and I am thrilled to have him join our team,” said Executive Constantine. “His mission here will go well beyond working on the annual budget. Our entire team is looking forward to tapping his expertise as we design long-term reforms that put King County on a sound financial footing, now and into the future.”

“The Executive and I have discussed several innovative ideas to improve County budgeting and service delivery, and I’m excited to begin working on them,” said Dively.

As Director of Finance for the City of Seattle, Dively led Seattle’s financial and budget management initiatives since 1994. Under his leadership the ratings of Seattle’s general obligation bonds were raised to the highest possible level, AAA in most cases. He oversaw all financial management services for city government, including budgeting, licensing, tax collection, accounting, purchasing and more. During his 22-year career with the city he also served the mayor as Executive Services Director and the city council as staff director and budget analyst.

Since 1989 Dively has also taught public financial management and public budgeting at the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington, where three times he was named “Outstanding Teacher.”

The current Acting Budget Director, Toni Rezab, will remain on board to serve as Deputy Budget Director.

Dively will begin his new duties in early March. Under the King County Charter the position of budget director is not one that must be confirmed by the County Council.