Loomis council approves consultant extensions and raises finance director salary range after recruitment shortfall

The Loomis Town Council approved consent-agenda amendments to extend consultant finance services and increase the finance director salary range after staff said the initial recruitment drew no qualified candidates.

Town Manager Wes and finance staff told the council the posted salary was below market, and staff recommended moving to a higher pay range (described in the staff report as Range 57: $137,025–$166,555) to attract candidates. Because the town lacked internal capacity following the unexpected passing of the prior finance director, staff said consultants (Edie Bailey and a second firm, contracted for accounting, audit preparation and managerial oversight) were retained to stabilize records and prepare for the audit and midyear budget review.

Residents and council members pressed for detail on the amounts already spent and why the town cannot hire permanent staff instead of paying consultants. One public commenter compared consultant costs to the prior director's salary and called the total 'absurd.' Staff explained that consultant work is time-and-materials and that additional hours were incurred to reconstruct records, upload budgets and support the audit process; staff also said replacing high‑hour consultants with a recruited finance director is the intended end state.

Related consent items included amendments to engineering and construction‑management contracts for road projects (item 11) and budget amendments to cover consultant time through February. The council discussed potential savings from moving some managerial duties from an expensive hourly consultant to a contracted finance director or lower‑hour consultant. After discussion, the council moved, seconded and approved the pulled consent items by roll call.

Staff said they expect to complete recruitment and onboard a finance director by February if the newly adopted salary range is approved; meanwhile, consultant contracts will continue to provide necessary accounting and audit support.