Springfield finance director to retire in July

Mary Mannix Decker, a city of Springfield employee since 1999 and its finance director since 2004, plans to retire on July 22.

Decker, who often speaks before City Council on financial issues, leads the Queen City finance department’s accounting, budget and evaluation, licensing, purchasing and print shop divisions. She joined the finance department in 1999 as budget administrator, was promoted to assistant director in April 2002 and accepted her current role in October 2004, according to a news release.

“Mary Mannix Decker is one of those special leaders who can explain complex issues in a way that you don’t feel dumb for asking the question,” City Manager Greg Burris said in the release. “Not only has she successfully led the fiscal management of arguably one of the most complex organizations in the region, but has done so with a caring touch.”

During Decker’s tenure, the city finance department received the Government Finance Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award eight years in a row. The award recognizes Springfield for satisfying nationally recognized guidelines on budget presentations, as well as the ability of the city’s budget to serve as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide and communications device.

Decker, Burris and other city leaders also have passed balanced budgets without dipping into reserves during and since the recession, according to the release.

The city will post the finance director position tomorrow on its website.

Decker said the position’s duties translate into visible community improvements.

“The stronger the city’s financial condition, the more we can accomplish,” she said in the release.