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<p><strong>From staff reports</strong></p>
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<p>Kathy Todd, the City of Beaufort’s director of finance since 2011, retired at the end of February. Her tenure at the City was marked by many accomplishments, including an improvement in the City’s bond rating and a string of awards for Excellence in Government Finance.</p>
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<p>“Kathy Todd has led the City in sound financial practices as both a consultant and as our finance director. Under her leadership, Beaufort’s finances have never been stronger,” City Manager Bill Prokop said in a release. “We will miss her but we know she has a lot of plans for her retirement.”</p>
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<p>Ms. Todd, who is a CPA in both South Carolina and Georgia, began to specialize in local governmental finance in 1988. She became a certified government finance manager in 1990.</p>
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<p>In the first eight years of her career, she performed external audits and federal compliance audits of local governments. She and her family moved from Arizona to Georgia in 1994, where she worked for a public accounting firm.</p>
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<p>“In 2007, my affiliation with the City of Beaufort began, when the City became my client,” she said. Ms. Todd worked with then Finance Director Shirley Hughes, and she was instrumental in helping the City earn its first Excellence in Financial Reporting award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for Beaufort’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.</p>
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<p>In 2011, Ms. Todd became finance director for the City. The accomplishments of her department under her leadership include:</p>
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<p>Earning Excellence in Government Finance awards annually.</p>
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<p>Earning Distinguished Budget Presentation awards from GFOA since 2017.</p>
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<p>Enhancing customer service in the Finance Department by implementing a business license payment portal in 2016, and for permits in 2019.</p>
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<p>Streamlining internal City financial practices, including an employee portal for pay stub information and W-2s.</p>
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<p>In 2014, the City’s bond rating increased from AA- to AA from the Standard &amp; Poor rating agency, and that rating has been maintained. The City also maintained an Aa2 rating from Moody’s.</p>
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<p>“Both ratings are indicative of the financial strength the City has maintained under Kathy’s leadership,” Prokop said.</p>
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<p>Ms. Todd said she plans to consult on a part-time basis in local government finance, as well as spend more time in ministry. Alan Eisenman, who has been the City’s senior accountant, became finance director on March 1.</p>
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<p>“I have had a wonderful time working for the City of Beaufort and I leave the City in a fiscally strong position. I am proud of all we have accomplished over the years,” Todd said. “As I pass the baton to Alan, I trust his knowledge and experience will continue to uphold and improve this position for the City in the future.”</p>
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