Government
BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN
Conroe’s new chief nancial o cer, Ariel Gibbs, shares goals for transparency, planning
The city of Conroe welcomed its new chief nancial o cer, Ariel Khan Gibbs, on April 1, who brings experience in governmental accounting, nance and auditing. What are your top nancial priorities in your rst year as Conroe’s CFO? My top priority will be focusing on sta develop- ment and team building. ... Next, I’m committed to enhancing nancial transparency. ... Another prior- ity for my rst year is budget optimization. I plan to conduct a thorough review of the city’s budget to pinpoint areas where we can optimize expenditures without sacri cing essential services. ... I also want to focus on revenue enhancement. ... How will you ensure taxpayer dollars are used e ciently? Accountability and transparency are
foundational. I believe in making nancial deci- sions with the best interests of taxpayers in mind. ... Next, data-driven decision-making is crucial. Regular audits and nancial reviews will also be a priority. ... Community engagement is key as well. ... I plan to host public forums and provide accessible information on how taxpayer dollars are being spent, encouraging feedback and input from residents. Lastly, I’m committed to a culture of continuous improvement. ... How do you measure a city’s overall nancial health? First up is the budget surplus or de cit. ... Next, I look at the fund balance. ... It’s important to know how much cushion we have. Debt ratios are also crucial. ... Revenue diversi cation is something I pay close attention to as well. ... Lastly, I evaluate long-term sustainability.
The city of Conroe welcomed its new chief nancial o cer, Ariel Khan Gibbs, on April 1.
COURTESY ARIEL KHAN GIBBS
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com .
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618 fish Creek Thoroughfare Suite 700 P: (832) 345-9092
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CONROE MONTGOMERY EDITION
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