Jessica Sager has been promoted to director of finance for the City of Rock Island.
She was sworn in during the Rock Island City Council meeting on Monday, April 22.
Ms. Sager was hired as the city’s finance manager in June 2022, and has served as interim finance director since October when the former Finance Director Linda Barnes retired.
“Jessica Sager brings a wealth of professional experience and fiscal achievements to the City of Rock Island,” City Manager Todd Thompson said in a news release. “I am confident she will continue the city’s pattern of sound financial management. I am pleased to appoint her as finance director.”
Ms. Sager will lead a finance team that has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 41 consecutive years for the city’s annual comprehensive financial report. The award is issued by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada. During Ms. Sager’s time as finance manager, the city has consistently passed balanced budgets and kept property taxes steady.
Exciting projects ahead
“I am honored to be promoted to finance director. I look forward to all the exciting projects that are on the horizon and to serving the citizens of Rock Island,” Ms. Sager said in the release.
A native of Colorado, Ms. Sager graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor of science degree in business administration. She brings more than 19 years of municipal experience to the position. She began her career in 2005 as a municipal court clerk for the City of Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, where she worked her way up to director of finance and administration.
During Ms. Sager’s tenure as director in Cherry Hills Village, general fund reserves improved by more than $5.8 million. Additionally, she oversaw the creation of two general improvement districts to assist with underground utilities. She also developed a long-range financial plan used to advise council on the financial condition of the city, administered the city’s sales and use tax program and coordinated the city’s annual audit. She created a budget document which won the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for eight consecutive years.
Ms. Sager also oversaw the issuance of more than $10 million in Certificates of Participation that were used to construct a new public works facility, a new city hall and overhaul a local park and amphitheater.
