Cayuga County has found its new director of finance in Grace Blowers, an internal candidate who was promoted to the position this week. Blowers has been with the county for more than 22 years, serving in various finance roles, including director of administrative for the Department of Social Services.
At the county’s legislative meeting on Tuesday, Blowers expressed her excitement to take on the new responsibilities and challenges of her position.
Blowers has been appointed to fill a three-year term that was originally held by Mary Beth Leeson, who left the job to become comptroller at Cayuga Community College. The appointment will run through September 30, 2024. Blowers will be earning an annual salary of $103,023, with an annual increase of 1.5%.
The search for the county’s second finance director began in August when Leeson gave notice, and a search committee was established by the legislature to find a suitable candidate. The committee interviewed several qualified candidates before ultimately choosing Blowers.
The creation of the finance department, which is headed by the finance director, was part of a reorganization effort in 2021 to centralize much of the county’s fiscal management. The establishment of the department also resulted in a reduction of duties for the county treasurer’s office. Legislature Chairman David Gould praised the decision to hire Blowers, saying that she was the best fit for the position among the candidates interviewed.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].