Cortez Finance Director Kelly Koskie, who’s held that title for four years now, is moving 1,000 miles north and west to Sunny Side, Washington, where she accepted a job as the city’s assistant city manager.
In her time as finance director, Koskie helped get the city to good financial standing, which was a long process after the previous finance director embezzled money.
When Koskie accepted the role in 2021, Cortez was five years behind in audits and had outstanding debt.
The audits, which traditionally take three months to complete, took eight.
“The previous director made a lot of erroneous entries to cover up her embezzling,” Koskie said. “We had to take those entries out and correct them, and it took time to find the correct information.”
Koskie and her “amazing, resilient” team of four also “consolidated investments that were once scattered.”
Within a year and a half, that consolidation “increased our return on investments by over 200%,” she said.
To rebuild community trust after the embezzlement, the city started using a budgeting software that gives the community access to it, so they can see where the money is going.
“We made a lot of headway,” she said.
Cortez is also now debt-free, thanks to Koskie and her “hardworking” team.
“I’ll really miss the leadership and finance team,” she said. I’ve so enjoyed my time with the city of Cortez.”
Koskie was born and raised in Montezuma County and moved to Sunny Side after graduating from Fort Lewis College.
“I lived there for 15 years, when my daughter was young,” said Koskie.
She still has friends there, as well as the home her daughter grew up in.
So when the assistant city manager position opened up, “I had friends calling, asking if I was going to apply and telling me to come back, we miss you,” Koskie laughed.
It’s an opportunity to “spread my wings,” and pursue more than just finance; as assistant city manager, Koskie will dabble in I.T., H.R. and even the municipal court.
What’s more, her daughter and 5-year-old grandson live 30 minutes away.
“So many things came together,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to quality time with them.”
For those many reasons, Koskie accepted the position and starts on April 14; “the moving van arrives on April 8,” she said.
Cortez’s director of finance position has yet to be filled. Columbia Ltd., a recruiting firm that has hired several city workers in the past, is actively looking to fill her position.
“I just want to give a huge thank you to our leadership, finance and City Council for the support they’ve given us,” Koskie said. “Everyone’s gone over and above, supporting us and our vision for what finances in the city ought to look like.”
