North Las Vegas names finance director

By Aida Ahmed

Friday, Jan. 6, 2012 | 8:11 p.m.

North Las Vegas has hired a permanent finance director to help tackle the city’s financial troubles.

Gerald Allan Zochowski’s appointment as director of finance was ratified at a City Council meeting Wednesday night. His annual salary is $135,000 and he will begin work Jan. 9.

Zochowski is replacing acting Director of Finance Al Noyola, who has held the position since June 2010. Noyola will return to his previous post as director of administrative services.

City spokeswoman Juliet Casey said the yearlong search for a finance director yielded many candidates, but Zochowski was the top pick.

Zochowski comes to the city with 30 years of experience in government operations. His most recent job was as finance director for the city of Lake Zurich, Ill. He also served as budget manager in Glenview, Ill.

The city also hired an assistant to the city manager, Tim Colbert. Before coming to North Las Vegas, Colbert was director of operations for Pulte Homes.

Next fiscal year, the city, which struggled to close a $30.3 million budget gap in 2011, will face a $15.5 million budget deficit.

The cash-strapped city refinanced a couple bonds last year to free up cash, but it did not stop Fitch Ratings from dropping its bond rating from A+ to A.