Okaloosa County Administrator Jim Curry will brief county commissioners Tuesday on his upcoming retirement.
Curry, who has worked for the county for 35 years, entered the Florida Deferred Retirement Option Program, or DROP, in 2008. Under state rules, he must leave his post by Oct. 30, 2013.
“I want to try to have as seamless a transition as we can,” he said. “The process of recruiting and hiring can be pretty time consuming, so I’m encouraging (commissioners) to get started.”
The board will discuss Curry’s retirement at Tuesday’s commission meeting in Crestview.
In a letter to commissioners, Curry said it had been an honor “to serve with so many outstanding employees and dedicated elected officials.”
Curry's letter to the board. >>
He was hired as an Okaloosa County corrections officer in 1978. Three years later, he was named director of the corrections department and served in that position until 1997. Curry served in the county’s No. 2 position from 1997 to 2005 when he became county administrator.
“It’s hard,” Curry said. “We’ve been able to accomplish so many things. … Obviously, there’s always more you want to do, but it’s time for me to change the chapter and go on to other things.”
His only plans at this point are to take a year-long sabbatical and spend more time with his wife.
“I know I’ll re-enter the workforce,” he said. “I’m too young to stay at home all the time.”
Curry said his successor will need to be someone who is skilled at balancing large budgets. He said “it would be advantageous” to have his replacement onboard in time to be part of the 2013-14 budgeting process.
An ideal timeline would have his replacement hired by the end of May because the next six weeks require critical budget decisions, he added.
“That’s when I really craft that final budget,” Curry said. “We make the cuts. We make the priorities and transmit a balanced budget to the board July 15.”
Curry also plans to recommend that commissioners — who will make the hire — use a professional recruiting firm.
“They can really bring highly qualified candidates to the table,” he said.
Curry said the extent to which any overlap would be needed depends on his replacement’s experience.
“If they hire someone who’s been a county administrator in a comparable Florida community, that person could very well walk in and hit the door running,” he said.
A candidate who worked as a deputy county administrator or city manager or someone who is from outside of Florida might need guidance, Curry said.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Kari Barlow at 850-315-4438 or kbarlow@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KariBnwfdn.