City finance chief to leave post for state role

Indianapolis' top financial leader is leaving his post to return to his roots in state government.

City Controller David Reynolds, who started with the city when Mayor Greg Ballard took office in January 2008, has accepted a job as senior fiscal analyst for the Indiana Senate’s Republican majority caucus.

Prior to his city job, Reynolds spent nine years with the state’s budget agency, including six as deputy budget director. He also spent five years as a fiscal analyst for the Indiana House Republicans.

He’ll start his new job in November after the city has passed its budget and as the state legislature begins committee meetings to discuss the next two-year budget. That budget process is expected to be particularly tough because of continuing shortfalls in state revenue.

“I’ve really enjoyed working for this administration, and what we’ve been able to accomplish in the last three years is pretty amazing,” Reynolds said Tuesday. "I hate leaving that because I think there’s more to come, (but) this is an opportunity that doesn’t come around very often.”

Reynolds touted the balanced budgets during difficult financial times that he helped craft during his time with the city.

"David Reynolds’ talent and integrity will be greatly missed not only in the Controller’s Office, but throughout my administration," Ballard said in a prepared statement Tuesday night. "The architect of three balanced budgets, David has the respect of his peers and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. The taxpayers of Indiana will benefit from his expertise in his new position at the Indiana State Senate."

Reynolds said he hopes to bring his knowledge of local government–and of dealing with the constraints they face in light of declining property and income-tax revenues–to his position providing counsel to state policymakers.

His city experience could strengthen the possibility of passing changes in state laws that would give local government more financial flexibility.

“I’ll bring a different perspective back to the Senate,” Reynolds said.