Town of Black Mountain finance director dismissed after seven months

Position vacancy comes as budget season approaches

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
February 25, 2021

The Town of Black Mountain is searching for a new finance director as preparations for the 2021-22 budget begin. Photo by Fred McCormick

The Town of Black Mountain is searching for a new finance director after the Jan. 26 dismissal of Kirk Medlin, who was hired in June of 2020.

The vacancy in the position, which is being filled by interim finance director Bill Bradley, comes as preparation for the 2021-22 budget gets underway. 

The dismissal of Medlin was non-disciplinary, according to the town, which cited its policy of not commenting publicly on personnel matters when asked for additional information related to the decision. 

Medlin held a similar position in Mount Holly until 2019 and was hired to replace former finance director Dean Luebbe, who was dismissed last April for “conduct unbecoming of a public officer,” according to information obtained through a public records request last May. 

Kirk Medlin, who was hired by the Town of Black Mountain as finance director in June, 2020, was dismissed Jan. 26 for non-disciplinary reasons, according to the town. Photo by Fred McCormick

The town posted the vacancy on its website, Jan. 27, and the position will remain open until filled, according to Town Manager Josh Harrold. 

“We plan to begin interviews within the next couple of weeks,” said Harrold, who will select approximately five applicants for panel interviews. “We would like to hire someone for the position by mid-April.”

Bradley, who will fill the role until a permanent replacement is found, has 30 years of experience in government finance prior to his retirement from Gaston County, according to the town manager. 

“He will handle the financial duties, which includes helping us put together the budget, until we hire someone to fill the position permanently,” Harrold said. 

Budget season is already underway for the Town of Black Mountain, and a preliminary workshop will be held in March. The budgetary process typically includes two workshops before the final document is adopted in June. 

This year, with a new mayor and three elected officials who were not on the board a year ago, the town will schedule three. 

“I think the earlier we meet, the better. We’re in a revaluation year, and the county has produced those numbers,” Harrold said. “We went up around 22% on average across the board for ad valorem assessments. By law, we have to calculate the revenue neutral tax rate to at least present that to the citizens and board.”

The town anticipated decreases in sales and property tax revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic when planning the current budget, according to Harrold. 

“Our sales tax has been trending better than what we predicted, and we’re still waiting to get the numbers on property tax,” he said. 

The town cut capital to a “minimal amount” prior to the adoption of the current budget in anticipation of the economic impact of the pandemic, according to Harrold. 

“Going into the upcoming fiscal year, we’ll look to go back to where we were with our budget, pre-COVID,” he said. “We’re going to spend money on capital projects and try to get back on track with things like street paving.”