Committee declines to issue RFQ for temporary finance contract labor

The Sumner County Financial Management Committee considered and rejected a motion to issue a request for qualifications (RFQ) to create a standby pool of contract finance professionals.

Chair Cherry Boyd proposed the RFQ as a contingency so the county would have vetted contract professionals available if a permanent finance director was not in place. Boyd said the backup would be limited to budgeting and revenue tasks and would not substitute for daily, long-term finance leadership.

Commissioners questioned the timing and cost of interim contract labor and whether hiring contractors would duplicate current staff work or come too late to affect the current budget cycle. Commissioners also noted the salary context for the vacant director post and the limited benefit of bringing contractors in late in the budget timeline.

The chair called the motion and conducted a voice vote; the motion failed. No RFQ was authorized, and the committee directed staff to continue working with Sumter Group on recruitment and to discuss timelines with the consultant.

Outcome: Motion to issue RFQ for short-term contract finance labor — failed (voice vote).