Pinetop Lakeside hires James Vincent Group as interim finance director and adopts tentative FY25-26 budget

The Pinetop Lakeside Town Council on July 10 approved a 12‑month professional services agreement with James Vincent Group LLC to provide the town’s finance director services, unanimously designated a James Vincent Group principal to file the town’s annual expenditure limitation report with the Arizona Auditor General, and adopted a tentative fiscal year 2025–26 budget that reduces overall expenditures while keeping multi‑month reserves.

Town Interim Manager Rick Miller told the council the contract follows a 30‑day short engagement and that the firm was selected from five respondents. He said the contract is intended to deliver continuity and expertise while saving the town money compared with hiring a permanent finance director. “Financially, it’s actually less expensive to the town,” Miller said, summarizing the firm’s projection of about a $69,000 annual savings versus a full‑time hire.

The James Vincent Group’s account manager, Sarah, told the council the firm’s model is primarily remote supplemented by regular on‑site visits and support. She said the monthly fee in the contract is $7,750 and that audit support in addition to that monthly fee would be $10,000. Sarah described services the firm will provide: preparing monthly financial reports and budget summaries, assisting with the annual budget and audit preparation, performing or…