THE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE

Committee Members

Marvin Leavitt, Chairman

Current Term 11/01/2020 – 10/31/2023

Mr. Marvin Leavitt graduated with a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Brigham Young University in 1966. He was a Certified Public Accountant in Nevada in 1968. From 1972 until 2001 he was Finance Director for the City of Las Vegas and prior to that he was Director of Administrative Service for 9 years. He serves as Chairman of the Committee on Local Government Finance for more than 25 years, and on numerous legislative committees, including the committee on Local Government Finance and Taxes. He was a lobbyist working on finance and taxation issues from 1977 until 2003. Since retiring from the City of Las Vegas in 2001 he has been a consultant. Marvin continues to represent the Urban Consortium, composed of the five largest cities in the state, since the 2003 legislative session through the 2007 Legislative Session.

Tom Ciesynski, Member

Current Term 7/1/2019 to 6/30/2022

Represents Nevada Association of School Boards

Thomas Ciesynski retired in November 2017 as Chief Financial Officer of Washoe County School District (WCSD), whose principal city is Reno, Nevada. WCSD is the second largest school district in the State of Nevada with approximately 64,000 students. Mr. Ciesynski spent twenty-six years at WCSD also serving as the Chief Accountant after being hired in 1991 as a Senior Accountant. During his time with the WCSD, Mr. Ciesynski worked with and supervised all aspects of the District’s financial operations including the implementation of the existing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system as well as working on legislative matters for over twenty years. Prior to coming to WCSD, Mr. Ciesynski worked for Universal Health Services and the international accounting firm Ernst & Young. He graduated from the University of Nevada-Reno where he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Accounting). He currently assists the Nevada Association of School Boards with their finances.

Jessica Colvin, Member

Current Term 12/1/2020 to 11/30/2023

Represents Nevada Association of Counties

Jessica Colvin was appointed by the Clark County Board of County Commissioners as the County Comptroller in June 2011. Prior to becoming Comptroller, Ms. Colvin was the controller of a non-profit organization, Nevada HAND. Ms. Colvin started her career working for a public accounting firm primarily auditing non-profit organizations and government agencies for over 10 years. Ms. Colvin is a native Nevadan, graduating from Valley High School and earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting from the University of Nevada, Reno and is a CPA licensed in the state of Nevada.

Jeff Cronk, Member

Current Term 1/31/2020 – 1/30/2023

Represents Nevada Leage of Cities

Mr. Cronk has over twenty years of experience as a local government finance professional. Jeff began his employment at the City of Sparks s the Accounting Manager in January 2006, and was appointed as the Director of the City's Financial Services Department in January 2010. In addition to his local government experience at the City of Sparks, he has been employed at the Washoe County School District and was an auditor for a variety of governmental agencies in Northern Nevada while earning his professional license. Jeff also has a broad range of financial management experience outside of the governmental world including manufacturing and not-for-profit industries. Mr. Cronk obtained his college education from the University of Nevada, Reno, and is a Certified Public Accountant, holding an active license since 1995, and is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the Government Finance Officers Association, and the Association of Government Accountants.

Marty Johnson, Member

Current Term 7/1/2020 – 6/30/2023

Represents Nevada Association of School Boards

Mr. Martin Johnson is the president of JNA Consulting Group, LLC, an independent public financial advisory firm. He has worked in the municipal finance industry for over 25 years. He has advised clients in Arizona, California and Nevada on the issuance of more than 500 transactions totaling more than $15 billion. He has worked on projects for every school district in the State of Nevada. He is well regarded for his quantitative and financial modeling skills having developed large, complex capital financing models for many of his clients. He also has extensive experience assisting clients with credit rating presentations and legislative issues. He has provided “Bonds 101” training to numerous agencies and organizations throughout the State. In his spare time he enjoys traveling with his family. Mr. Johnson received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Finance from Brigham Young University.

Gina Rackley, Member

Current term 2/01/20 – 1/31/23

Represents Nevada Association of Counties

Gina Rackley was appointed by the Humboldt County Board of Commissioners as the County Comptroller in January 2017. Prior to that, she served as the Humboldt County Treasurer for ten years. Gina began her career in local government finance in the City of Winnemucca Clerk / Treasurer’s office in 1990. She accepted a position in the Humboldt County Comptroller’s office from 1999 to 2006 when she was elected as Treasurer. Gina is a native Nevadan, born in Hawthorne. She attended the University of Nevada – Reno and graduated from Great Basin Community College in Winnemucca with a degree in Business Administration. Gina is a member of the Government Finance Officers of America, Government Investment Officers of America, and the County Fiscal Officers Association of Nevada.

Felicia O’Carroll, Member

Current Term 4/01/23 - 3/31/26

Represents Nevada State Board of Accountancy

Felicia O’Carroll received her Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the
University of Nevada, Reno in 1976 and her Masters of Science degree in Taxation
from Golden Gate University in 1988. Felicia currently serves as a quality control
consultant for two Nevada based CPA firms, following a four-year period as a
partner with the accounting firm of Eide Bailly, LLP. Prior to that, she spent more
than 35 years with the accounting firm of Kafoury, Armstrong & Co, joining the firm
as an intern while a student at the University of Nevada in 1976. In 1989, she became
the first woman elected Shareholder in the Company’s history. Felicia served as the
Managing Shareholder of the firm’s largest office for several years prior to its
merger with Eide Bailly, LLP. She practices primarily in the areas of governmental
and not-for-profit auditing. Her audit clients have included entities ranging in size
from the Lovelock Meadows Water District to the State of Nevada. Felicia is a
member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Nevada
Society of Certified Public Accountants and served a six-year term on the Nevada
State Board of Accountancy. She is also a member of the Government Finance
Officers Association and has been a reviewer for that organization’s Certificate of
Achievement program. Felicia is a native Nevadan and believes strongly in giving
back to her community.

Jim McIntosh

Current Term 11/01/2019-10/31/2022

Represents Nevada League of Cities

Jim McIntosh was named Finance Director for the City of Henderson in July 2016 where he is responsible for management and operational oversight of the City's Finance Department. Prior to joining the City, he served as the Chief Financial Officer for the Clark County School District (CCSD), the nation's fifth largest school district, where he worked for the past seventeen years and previously served as both the Deputy Chief Financial Officer and the Accounting Director. As Chief Financial Officer at CCSD, he was directly responsible for a broad range of operations including accounting, budget, investments, risk management, facilities, information technology, and debt management. He has served on state task forces related to education funding, is an alumnus of the Clark County Public Education Executive Leadership Program and the Harvard Public Education Leadership Project. Jim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree both from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and is a member of the Government Finance Officers Association, and the Association for Finance Professionals.

Abigail Yacoben

Current Term 2/01/2023 - 1/31/2026

Abbe Yacoben is Washoe County’s Chief Financial Officer. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy Studies with a concentration in finance, as well as a Certified Public Finance Officer certification. Before moving to Washoe County, she served as Deputy Finance Director and City Treasurer for the City of Las Vegas, where she and her team oversaw the City’s $2 billion annual budget. She began her public service at the Village of Forest Park, Illinois, in 2003 and has almost 20 years of municipal finance leadership experience.

She is particularly interested in local government taxation and impacts of public policy decisions on community stakeholders, and looking forward to serving the taxpayers of Nevada on the Committee on Local Government Finance.

Abbe is married with two teenage children, and likes spending time with her family, gardening and making homemade pizza.

Mary Walker, Member

Current Term 4/01/23 - 3/31/26

Represents Nevada State Board of Accountancy

Ms. Mary Walker, CPA is the founder and President of Walker & Associates. Ms. Walker's area of expertise includes local government finance including budget and capital planning, debt management, and redevelopment and government affairs. Ms. Walker has also had extensive experience working with the Nevada State Legislature regarding local government and hospital issues. Ms. Walker's financial experience includes 4 years in public accounting and 12 years as the Carson City Finance Director. Ms. Walker was also the Carson City Redevelopment Director for 5 years. In 1998, Ms. Walker founded Walker & Associates, a private consulting firm focusing on government affairs and financial management for local governments. Ms. Walker served on the Legislative Subcommittee Studying Laws Relating to the Distribution among Local Governments of Revenue from State and Local Taxes. Ms. Walker is a member of the Government Finance Officers Association and Nevada Society of CPAs. Ms. Walker is past director of the Nevada Community Credit Union, fiscal officer for the Nevada Association of Counties, officer of the Redevelopment Association of Nevada and officer of the Nevada Government Finance Officers Association. Ms. Walker received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Paul Johnson, Member

Current Term 7/01/2021 to 6/30/2024

Represents Nevada Association of School Boards

Paul Johnson, Chief Financial Officer
Paul has served as the Chief Financial Officer for the White Pine County School District since March 1997 and has had the privilege of serving on a number of Nevada fiscal panels and funding studies to evaluate the Nevada Plan funding formula for K-12 education. Most recently, he was involved on a committee tasked with repairing and simplifying the current Nevada Plan funding formula. In 2013 through 2014 he served as a member of the Task Force on K-12 Public Education Funding Technical Advisory Committee. The Task Force was created to recommend a plan for funding public schools based upon a weighted formula that takes into consideration the individual educational needs and demographic characteristics of pupils. Through his efforts and involvement with various committees that serve to improve Nevada's funding, he has earned the following awards:

Nevada Association of School Boards: District Level Administrator Impacting Student Achievement
Nevada Association of School Boards: Executive Director's Award for Outstanding Contributions to Public Education and Nevada School Boards Service During the 2015 Session of the Nevada Legislature
Nevada Association of School Boards: Executive Director's Award for Outstanding Contributions to Public Education and Nevada School Boards Service as a Member of the Technical Advisory Committee to the Task Force on K-12 Public Education Funding
Nevada Association of School Administrators: Central Office Professional-Technical Administrator of the Year

In September 2002, he was appointed to the White Pine County Commission by Governor Kenny C. Guinn and served the remaining term through 2004. During this period he served as the Vice Chair and Chairman of the Commission and served on several advisory committees.

Mr. Johnson graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from UNLV and has a diverse background including experience with small businesses, corporations and local government operations. He is actively involved in civic organizations, local government affairs, economic development and youth athletics/activities.