Should Town of Mammoth and Mono County mix finance?

Late last year, Mammoth Lakes Town Manager Dave Wilbrecht expressed an interest to “think outside the box” in the new year. At the close of a Town-County liaison meeting on Dec. 20, Wilbrecht expressed that he would like to see the Town apply for Mono County’s open position of Finance Director, left vacant by the departure of Brian Muir.

During a clarifying phone call this week, Wilbrecht further explained his idea. He didn’t mean for the entire Town of Mammoth to serve as the Finance Director, but for the Town’s Assistant Town Manager, Marianna Marysheva Martinez to serve in that capacity.

“I planned to talk with Marianna about it today [Wednesday], but I am kind of serious about it,” Wilbrecht said. He likened it to the current employment of GIS Coordinator Nate Greenberg, who serves both the Town and Mono County in that position.

“Both the Town and the County have very competent people in management,” Wilbrecht expressed. “It would be good to have common leadership and share systems and insurances.”

Wilbrecht said that it would not be unfathomable for MMM to be able to handle the load since she has come from other cities that have much bigger budgets to deal with than even Mono County.

“It would be a cost savings and could enhance services,” Wilbrecht said, estimating that even with paying more to MMM (“I wouldn’t want her to do it for free,” he said.), it could save the agencies $150,000-$200,000.

Wilbrecht said it would ultimately be up to the Town Council and the Board of Supervisors to make it fly.