CFO outlines plan to transition finance work from contractors to an in‑house team; trustees urge faster hires and overlap with consultants

Chief Financial Officer Ramona Hink presented the proposed biennium budget for fiscal years 2026–27 and described a planned transition from independent consultants to an in‑house finance and accounting department.

Hink said the proposed biennial budget totals $5,355,931, with personnel representing the largest share at about $4.5 million. “Personnel is the highest,” she said, and explained that personnel costs rise because five independent consultants are expected to be transitioned into in-house positions.

Hink listed three primary spending priorities: hiring and building internal staff, enhancing internal systems and processes, and professional development and training. She said go‑live for a travel expense application is scheduled for May 27 and that fiscal 2026 will include rollout of p‑card processing, invoice workflows and a project…