WASHOE COUNTY
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
1001 E. Ninth Street, Room A-225
Reno, NV 89512
(775) 328-2070
Sheri Mendez, Director
e-mail: smendez@washoecounty.us
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 11130, Reno, NV 89520-0027
MISSION
The mission of the Washoe County Finance Department is to manage the financial and fiscal affairs of the County such that the Board of County Commissioners is reasonably assured that financial resources will be available to fund operations and obligations they may approve for the short and long term.
DESCRIPTION
The Finance Department recommends and implements financial and fiscal policies, prepares and recommends the annual budget, monitors the County's revenues and expenditures, and recommends or takes action as necessary to assure a positive fiscal outcome. The Finance Department also maximizes the revenue collected by individual County agencies, oversees the financial operations of County departments, maintains accurate financial and accounting records of all County transactions, prepares financial reports, limits exposure to loss from damage to or destruction of assets and errors or omissions, and operates the County's self-insured health plan and other contractual health insurance plans.
In order to accomplish its mandates, the Finance Department is organized into four divisions:
The Budget Division identifies obligated or unobligated revenues from multiple sources available to Washoe County to fund operations, capital improvements, special programs, and debt. In partnership with departments, they prepare annual spending plans to utilize those revenues within constraints prescribed by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC), and state and federal law. During the year, Finance Department staff monitors the expenditures of county departments to manage and control trends that might otherwise exceed appropriations authorized by the BCC. Staff provides consulting efforts to assist departments with process and operations analysis and to further short- and long-term strategic planning efforts.
The Comptroller's Office provides timely, relevant and accessible financial information and services that comply with laws and regulations. This division also supports management decision-making in a manner that ensures financial integrity, and accurately reflects the County's financial operations and position within a secure environment.
The Purchasing Division is dedicated to obtaining goods and services through the best economical use of public funds, supplying goods and services when they are needed through comparison pricing and quality without prejudice, and disseminating information for new technologies, products, services, and sources. This division also serves as the County's Contract Administrator, negotiating and administering most of the County's contracts - from the regulation of the cable television franchises within the County to auctioneer services - and is also responsible for compiling, updating and maintaining current records on all personal property owned by the County, including automobiles, equipment, furniture, tools, computers, telecommunications, weapons, etc., for inventory and insurance purposes.
Also under the Finance Department's umbrella of responsibility is the appropriate administration of the Risk Management Division, which is managed and reported as an internal service fund. To contact Risk Management please call (775) 328-2071.