News Release - Mayor Richards Selects Christopher Wagner as New City Budget Director

City of Rochester

News Release

(Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012) – Mayor Thomas S. Richards today announced that he has selected Christopher Wagner to replace William Ansbrow as the Director of the City’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) upon Mr. Ansbrow’s departure in September.

“Chris Wagner is a consummate professional and has been a key City staff member for many years, including time as Assistant Budget Director,” said Mayor Richards. “He will be an even greater contributor in this new role so I am pleased to appoint him.”

Mr. Wagner is a 22-year City employee, spending most of his time with the Department of Environmental Services (DES). He was most recently Director of Operations and has served as a Principal Staff Assistant, Senior Administrative Analyst and Municipal Assistant. Wagner served OMB as Assistant Budget Director from Oct. 2006 to Oct. 2008.

In that role, he served as Acting Director in the absence of the Director, coordinated the preparation of the City’s Annual Operating Budget and coordinated the Administration’s response to City Council questions regarding the Budget Proposal.

As the DES Director of Operations, Mr. Wagner was responsible for the activities of the divisions of Solid Waste, Special Services, Building Services and Fleet Maintenance under the Bureau of Operations and Parks. He administered the bureau’s fiscal operations and instituted GPS tracking on roadway snow plow contractors. He also managed the DES Division of Technology services, administering the City’s telecommunications system.

The OMB plays an integral role in aligning City resources with its core mission through the collection, analysis, and evaluation of data, providing information and preparing recommendations. The results of these efforts are reflected in the City's Annual Budget document.

Mr. Wagner will work together with Mr. Ansbrow until September 1. After that, Mr. Ansbrow will take the position of Chief Financial Officer at the Rochester City School District and Mr. Wagner will become the City’s Director of OMB. Wagner’s appointment must be confirmed by City Council.

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News media: For more information, contact Gary Walker at 428-7405.