HomeMy WebLinkAboutReports - 2020.12.07 - 34018REPORT December 7, 2020
BY: Commissioner Helaine Zack, Chairperson, Finance and Infrastructure Committee
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — COUNTY EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT — DIRECTOR OF
MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Finance and Infrastructure Committee, having reviewed the appointment by the County Executive of
Kyle Jen as Director of Management and Budget effective December 7, 2020, recommends concurrence
of this appointment, pursuant to Public Act 139 of 1973.
Chairperson, on behalf of the Finance and Infrastructure Committee, I move acceptance of the
foregoing report.
Commissioner Helaine Zack, District #18
Chairperson, Finance and Infrastructure Committee
FINANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE VOTE:
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
Summary
• Trusted advisor to elected and appointed officials from both political parties, with demonstrated ability to
simplify complex budget and financial issues, ensure that a range of viewpoints and options are presented,
and offer clear recommendations regarding critical short- and long-term decisions.
• Strategic thinker focused on solving problems and building innovative approaches to serve public purposes
and program beneficiaries through a political process involving a broad and diverse set of stakeholders.
• Skilled written and verbal communicator for both internal and external audiences.
• Experienced leader with proven history of building team -based cultures, improving internal processes, and
managing major transitions.
Experience
NOVEMBER 2016—PRESENT
Deputy State Budget Director / State Budget Office, State of Michigan
Direct the operations of a cabinet -level state agency that houses the State of Michigan's central budget,
financial management, and internal audit functions, operating on a total annual budget of $60 million with a
240-person staff.
o Oversee annual development of the Governor's $60 billion Executive Budget Recommendation and
associated materials presented to Legislature. Brief and advise State Budget Director and Governor on key
budget policy decisions. Develop and edit internal briefing and decision documents.
o As part of a small team, negotiate the enacted budget with legislative leadership on behalf of the
Governor. Work collaboratively with an array of internal and external participants — including state
department leaders, legislators, and interest groups — throughout budget process.
o Guide Capital Outlay budgeting process for construction of state department, public university, and
community college facilities. Review and approve allocations from central funding pools of $30 million -plus
each for state facility maintenance and information technology system upgrades.
o Present budget information to internal and external audiences, including active participation in periodic
state presentations to credit rating agencies.
o Monitor state and national economic and policy spheres to maximize readiness of office to respond to new
developments. Maintain long-term state budget projections to inform near -term recommendations.
o Supervise eight direct reports (seven deputy/office directors; one assistant). Oversee operations of state's
integrated payroll, financial, and accounting system. Provide direction regarding year-end book closing
process and publication of state's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.
o Participate in multi -departmental Enterprisewide Risk Coordinating Committee, which facilitates
identification, prioritization, and monitoring of significant risks to state government. Guide key internal
audit engagements.
o Provide guidance to the state's Office of Retirement Services (ORS) on policy and actuarial decisions
affecting the state budget for the state's school and state employee retirement systems.
o Consult with State Personnel Director, Office of State Employer, and Governor's Office regarding statewide
personnel issues, including bargaining with state employee unions, planning for potential state
government shutdown, and state government response to COVID-19 emergency.
o Work with Attorney General's Office and Governor's Legal Office to determine most effective actions and
arguments in legal cases affecting the state's financial practices and position.
o Key accomplishments:
✓ Worked with ORS to build funding adjustments into the state budget to improve retirement system
stability, including substantially lowering the state retirement systems' assumed rates of return (from
8%to approximately 7%).
✓ Served as co-chair of governing board for $175 million SIGMA project during the final year prior to
system go -live. Project implemented a fully integrated Enterprise Resource Planning system for the
state's financial operations on time, under budget, and with full scope in 2017.
✓ In collaboration with the State Treasurer and Chief Economist, produced the state's first internal
planning document for fiscal response to a future economic recession (2017).
✓ Contributed to building of presentations utilized to secure upgrade in the state's credit rating with
Standard and Poor's from AA- to AA in 2018.
✓ Advocated both internally and externally for additional deposits into the state's Rainy Day Fund,
increasing the fund's balance to a near all-time peak of $1.2 billion prior to 2020 economic downturn.
✓ Drove development of federally approved tiered managed care organization tax to replace state's
previous Health Insurance Claims Assessment, supporting $1 billion of Medicaid services.
✓ Constructed frameworkfor and edited comprehensive budget briefing package utilized by
gubernatorial transition team. Led development of Executive Budget Recommendation for incoming
governor underthe constraints of a two -month working period.
✓ Scripted and recorded video explanation of major state budget expenditure areas and considerations.
✓ Drove multi -department effort to identify, refine, and solve a projected $45 million General Fund
shortfall within the Department of Health & Human Services' information technology budget.
✓ Reduced budget staff by 10%through attrition, while maintaining all office performance standards
and pushing decision making on more technical issues down organizational chart.
✓ Led process to build, negotiate, and implement plan to balance the state budget in response to
projected COVID-19-driven fiscal year 2020 and 2021 combined revenue losses of over $3 billion,
while utilizing less than one -quarter of state's Rainy Day Fund balance.
JULY 2011 —OCTOBER 2016
Deputy Director / House Pascal Agency, Michigan House of Representatives
Partnered with director to implement agency mission of providing nonpartisan budget expertise and assistance
to the 110 members of the Michigan House of Representatives, operating under a statutory confidentiality
requirement. The House Fiscal Agency is a 25-person legislative agency with a $4 million annual budget.
o Prepared analyses of Michigan's $10 billion General Fund budget utilized in legislative deliberations.
o Provided technical support and advice to House Appropriations Committee chairfor budget negotiations.
o Developed, wrote, and edited special reports on fiscal issues relevant to the Legislature, including the
state's Medicaid oroeram, Rainv Dav Fund, and legislative budget process.
o Prepared and delivered presentations to legislative and external audiences.
o Coordinated fiscal analyses of complex legislation, including transportation funding packages.
o Managed agency's health and human services unit (January 2015 to October 2016).
o Key accomplishments:
✓ Created single -sheet, poster -sized visualization connecting state revenue sources, operating funds,
and budgeted appropriations.
✓ Developed internal guidelines for preparation of fiscal notes estimating impacts of proposed
legislation on state and local government finances.
✓ Led redesign of agency website and budget briefing materials to improve accessibility to relevant
budget information for legislators, legislative staff, and the general public.
✓ Implemented performance planning process utilized annually by all agency staff to establish goals for
professional growth and productivity.
1ANUARY 2009-1UNE 2011
Associate Director / House Fiscal Agency
o Supervised five fiscal analysts across a range of budget areas.
o Coordinated production and analysis of multi -departmental supplemental appropriation bills.
o Assisted with analysis of complex legislation affecting state retirement systems, including legislation
enacted in 2010 moving new school employees to a hybrid retirement plan. Co-authored renort explaining
key provisions and financial considerations of the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System.
FEBRUARY 1999 — DECEMBER 2008
Fiscal Analyst / house Fiscal Agency
o Reviewed and analyzed budget proposals.
o Testified on budget -related matters before legislative committees.
o Analyzed proposed legislation to estimate fiscal impacts for state and local governments.
o Analyzed postsecondary enrollments, finances, and performance (key report). Assisted legislators in
constructing university performance budgeting formulas.
o Served as member of Higher Education Institutional Data Inventory Advisory Committee. Led efforts to
improve data surveys regarding student financial aid and employee compensation.
Education and Professional Development
DECEMBER 2000
Master of Public Administration / Michigan State University
MAY 1997
Bachelor of Arts with a Major in political Science / Michigan State University
Professional Development
o SBO Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion workshops facilitated by Ali Webb Strategies and Keecha Harris and
Associates
o National Association of State Budget Officer conferences
o Edward Tufte seminar on Presenting Data and Information
o National Conference of State Legislatures budget conferences
Updated October 2020
Report December 7, 2020
Moved by Zack seconded by Luebs the Finance and Infrastructure Committee Report be accepted.
Discussion followed.
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the report was accepted.
Moved by Zack seconded by Luebs the appointment of Kyle Jan as Director of Management and Budget
effective December 7, 2020 be confirmed.
Vote on appointment:
AYES: Luebs, Markham, McGillivray Middleton, Miller, Nelson, Powell, Quarles, Spisz, Taub,
Weipert, Woodward, Zack, Gershenson, Gingell, Hoffman, Jackson, Kochenderfer, Kowa[[, Kuhn,
Long. (21)
NAYS: None. (0)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the appointment of Kyle Jen as Director of Management and
Budget effective December 7, 2020 was confirmed.