LEADERSHIP

Carmen Arrieta-Candelaria

Budget Director

Ms. Arrieta-Candelaria brings over 33 years of professional finance and accounting experience, including nearly three decades in executive-level management across municipal government and school districts. Most recently, she served as Chief Financial Officer for the Fort Worth Independent School District, where she managed an operating budget of more than $1.1 billion dollars. She has also held leadership roles in municipal government and has served on multiple boards, including ReadyOne Industries, Texas CLASS Investment Pool, and the University Medical Center of El Paso. A licensed Texas CPA since 1993, she holds both an undergraduate degree in accounting and an MBA from New Mexico State University.

“I am thrilled to return to El Paso and contribute to the community in this new role. This is a critical time for local governments, and I look forward to working with County leaders to find solutions and create opportunities that strengthen our future. Personally, I am grateful for the chance to reunite with family, reconnect with friends, and serve my beloved community. I am humbled by this opportunity.”

MISSION STATEMENT

The Office of Budget and Finance strives to ensure fiscal transparency and accountability, and to promote the linkage of the budget process with the strategic plans of the Commissioners Court while simultaneously managing County resources and meeting the needs of our growing community.

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO?

The Office of Budget and Finance Department is responsible for preparing a proposed County budget that reasonably illustrates actual or estimated expenditures as well as resources for current and future years. This includes coordinating departmental workshops and preparing annual fiscal and budget policies and procedures, providing guidance and advice to all County department managers, elected officials, and department heads on the financial condition of their respective departments. The Budget and Finance Department also works closely with the University Medical Center (UMC) and the Emergency Services Districts (ESDs) No. 1 and 2 with regard to their annual budget and tax rate requests.

We also assist with special budgetary requests and monitor staffing levels and personnel-related spending. We look for innovative approaches to ensure timely and complete collection of County revenues as well as collaborate with County administration and County departments on the conduct of cost/benefit studies and assisting departments in determining ways to increase efficiency and effectiveness throughout County operations. This collaboration with all County departments includes the development, collection, and reporting of performance measures that will provide us with the data to make future meaningful resource allocation recommendations.

The Budget and Finance Department began managing the Financial Recovery Division in 2015. This division is responsible for recovering monies assessed by court order to assist in collecting revenue due to the County and taxpayers in a cost effective manner. In addition, effective 2016, the Grants Administration Division was made part of the Budget and Finance Team. This department is in charge of identifying funding sources, placing priority in applying for, administering, and managing grants that are in alignment with the County strategic plan.