Oakland Finance Director Erin Roseman will step down from her role next month. Roseman announced her resignation just days before Oakland’s interim mayor was set to release his proposed budget.
Roseman has been in charge of city finances since 2021. She was previously Chief Financial Officer for the Transbay Joint Powers Authority.
There have been a number of dust-ups during Roseman’s tenure. A recent city audit concluded that Oakland overpaid employees in the Public Works Department and Department of Transportation for overtime.
Roseman has also clashed with elected leaders in the past. Emails obtained by the East Bay Times reveal a tense relationship between Roseman and Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan, who expressed frustration when the purchase of 37 police vehicles was delayed.
Oakland’s Finance Director typically plays an important role in the budget deliberations which are now ongoing at City Hall. The proposed spending plan from Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins includes staffing cuts and freezes, cuts to afterschool care, and the elimination of public campaign financing.
The reductions reflect the city’s fiscal dilemma. Oakland is facing a shortfall of $89 million for the current fiscal year and a $265 million projected structural deficit for the next two-year cycle.
Read more about Roseman’s departure at The Oaklandside.