The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
Phone: 301-264-3147
Email: [email protected]
P.O. Box 651
Mount Savage, MD 21545
Bennett named new finance director for Allegany County
Government employee promoted from chief accountant
For The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
CUMBERLAND, May 12 -- Allegany County Administrator David A. Eberly announced today that he has selected Jason M. Bennett, C.P.A., to be the County’s next Director of Finance. Bennett replaces Jerry L. Frantz, C.P.A., who will retire from Allegany County Government on May 31 after 30 years of service.
Bennett earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Frostburg State University and is a registered Certified Public Accountant in the State of Maryland. He is a graduate of Leadership Allegany!
Bennett has seven and one-half years of experience with Allegany County Government. He was hired to be an accountant in the Department of Finance in October 2003. He was promoted to chief accountant in December 2005 and has served in this capacity to the present time. His on-going managerial responsibilities include supervising staff in day to day operations, assisting in the preparation of financial statements, tracking fixed assets and capital projects, ensuring the integrity of the accounting system, ensuring the timely completion of the external audit and making public presentations.
During his career with Allegany County government, Bennett has been involved with many challenging issues and projects dealing with difficult financial issues. Of note, Bennett now coordinates the budget preparation process. Bennett was one of the three member ad-hoc committee responsible for marketing and selling the county’s former nursing home. He is the lead individual in the county’s acquisition of new software in an effort to streamline operations in the finance department, specifically, for utility and real estate tax billing and collection. He serves on the RETSA Committee, which directs the real estate tax set aside program. Bennett was also involved in the development of financial options pertaining to the Georges Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The Director of Finance is a member of the county’s senior management team. As the director of finance, Bennett will manage 20 employees. Bennett has served and will continue to serve as the acting County Administrator in the event of the absence of Eberly.
Bennett also had several years experience with two public accounting firms, in Bethesda and in Cumberland, before his association with Allegany County Government. Here, he gained valuable tax, payroll, and audit experience, including auditing local governments and government contractors.
Born and raised in Cumberland, Bennett is a graduate of Allegany High School. He currently resides in Oldtown with his wife, Sarah. They have three daughters, Ryann, Carly, and Ella.