Deputy city manager announces May retirement

Deputy City Manager Evelyn Honea is retiring in May after 28 years working for the city of Springfield.

Honea has served as deputy city manager since August 2007, after working two years as assistant city manager. She supervises several departments including the Finance department and works with City Council committees.

City Manager Greg Burris said he does not plan to fill Honea's position during the current hiring freeze, which the city implemented at the beginning of 2009 to combat declining sales tax revenues. He and Assistant City Manager Collin Quigley will absorb Honea's job duties, with other members of city leadership picking up certain job responsibilities.

Honea joined the city's Finance department in 1982 as assistant director of finance. In 1999, she took over as director of information systems before moving to the city manager's office.

Honea is a certified public accountant and served in financial positions in Dallas and San Marcos, Texas, and Bloomington, Ind. before moving to Springfield. She has a master's degree in public administration from Missouri State University.

"I am very grateful that Evelyn delayed her retirement while we worked toward solutions to the Police-Fire Pension Fund shortfall," Burris said in the release, referring to the $200 million shortage in the pension fund and subsequent plan changes and sales tax approved by voters in February.