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Archive for the 'Kara Skinner' Tag

Bach forms team to develop pension solutions

October 29th, 2012, 1:39 pm by

Mayor Steve Bach on Monday announced the formation of a Pension Solutions Team to provide the city government advice and counsel on achieving long-term pension sustainability.

“The city’s current pension plans are not fiscally sustainable and if not changed will lead to general fund insolvency,” Bach said in a statement.

“It is essential that the plans be modified for long-term sustainability,” he said.

Marvin Strait, a certified public accountant, will lead the solutions team, one of several the mayor has formed to tackle different issues facing Colorado Springs.

Strait works in the local offices of the law firm Hogan Lovells, which has close ties to Bach.

Other members of the solutions team include Kurt Kofford, who is also a certified public accountant, retired businessman David Sunderland, Chief of Staff Laura Neumann, Chief Financial Officer Kara Skinner and HR Director Mike Sullivan.

Two City Council members will also serve on the solutions team.

The team is expected to have a recommendation for the mayor by February 2013, the city said.

 

 

Posted in: City Administration • City Council • City employees • • • • • • • • • | 8 Comments »

Mayor names new chief financial officer

May 31st, 2012, 1:50 pm by

Kara Skinner

The mayor’s Communications Office just issued this news release:

Mayor Steve Bach is pleased to announce the promotion of Kara Skinner to Chief Financial Officer, pending confirmation by City Council on June 12.

“After a nationwide search and a competitive two-stage interview process over several months, Kara rose to the top of a field of more than 125 national and local candidates,” said Mayor Bach. “Kara previously served us as both Interim Finance and Budget Director and is a well-known and widely-respected leader in the City organization.”

Skinner has been with the City since 2006 when she started as a Principal Analyst in the Budget Office. She served as Interim Finance Director from July 2011 to February 2012 and then as Interim Budget Director from late February 2012 until this promotion to CFO. As a Navy spouse, Skinner moved several times over the course of her career, garnering wide experience in public finance. She began her career in 1989 as a Utility Analyst at the Maine Public Utilities Commission. She also worked at the Hawaiian Electric Company and as an economist at the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Skinner has also taught at both the high school and college level.

Skinner earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Master’s Degree in Economics from Duke University. Her salary will be $135,000 annually.

Posted in: Budget • City Administration • City employees • • | 1 Comment »

City employee who contributed $10K to PERA has received $200K in benefits

October 10th, 2011, 9:51 am by

The pension plans for Colorado Springs police and firefighters have been described as a ticking timebomb.

Today, the City Council may find out how short the fuse is when they get an update on the city’s defined benefit pension plans. The council requested the information.

Among the speakers will be Kara Skinner, interim finance director, Dan Slack, CEO of the Fire & Police Pension Association of Colorado, and Greg Smith, chief operating officer and general counsel of the Public Employees’ Retirement Association of Colorado.

The Gazette recently obtained an annual statement that a short-time city employee received from PERA.

According to the statement, the employee put in more than $10,000 into PERA.

“This includes your member contributions, interest and payments to purchase service credit. Contributions from your employer are not included,” according to the statement.

“As of Dec. 31, 2010, PERA has paid (more than $200,000) in monthly benefits to you,” according to the statement.

The Gazette wasn’t more specific with the contribution and benefit numbers to protect the identity of the employee.

 

 

Posted in: Budget • City Council • City employees • • • • • • | 14 Comments »