Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s new administration continues to take shape, even over 100 days on the job. Joining WGBH’s Boston Public Radio 89.7, Mayor Walsh announced the appointment of former Massachusetts State Lottery Commission CFO David Sweeney as the City of Boston’s new CFO, succeeding Meredith Weenick.
In this capacity, Sweeney will act as the mayor’s Cabinet Chief of Finance and Budget, a role in which he’ll over see the Assessing, Auditing, Budget, Purchasing, Treasury, and Registry Departments. Interestingly, the appointment came well after Mayor Walsh submitted his first budget proposal, a $2.7 billion value that includes public service initiatives like Wicked Free Wi-Fi and extending Boston Public Library hours.
According to a City of Boston press release, Sweeney’s new duties will include “debt and investment management, financial reporting, budget development and oversight, tax administration, risk management, city-wide performance management, and the administration of enterprise-wide financial systems.”
Sweeney was in his role as lottery CFO since 2011. During that time, lottery sales “for July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013 rang in at $4.831 billion, topping the previous sales record of $4.723 billion set in FY12 by $108 million,” according to Massachusetts State Lottery Commission data.
“I’m pleased to welcome David Sweeney as Boston’s new Chief Financial Officer,” said Mayor Walsh in a statement.
I’m confident he will continue the City’s longstanding practices of fiscal prudence to ensure that Boston’s overall financial health remains strong. I’m also grateful for Meredith Weenick’s service to the City of Boston, particularly during the transition period, and for her leadership in our first budget of the Walsh Administration.
Prior to working at the lottery, Sweeney served as a Budget Analyst for the Massachusetts House Committee on Ways and Means. He was responsible for helping put together the Committee’s then-$30 billion budget.
Given Sweeney’s wealth of experience with budgeting, it’s interesting that Mayor Walsh waited until his budget proposal was submitted before bringing Sweeney along. BostInno reached out directly to the mayor’s office for clarification on the matter, but nobody was immediately available for comment.
“I’m honored to join Mayor Walsh’s team in this role,” added Sweeney in a statement.. “Our shared vision for the City’s fiscal welfare will mean great things for Boston’s long-term growth and stability.”
Image via Mayor Marty Walsh’s Facebook
