Oro Valley finance department hires accounting specialist; longtime employee Susie Molinar to retire

Staff liaison Mr. Gephart told the Budget and Finance Commission on Oct. 21 that the finance department has hired a new accounting specialist who will begin work Oct. 27 and will overlap with a long‑time employee who is retiring.

"We have a new accounting specialist, that starts, October 27," Mr. Gephart said. He identified the retiring employee by name: "She's retiring. Her name's Susie Molinar, and she is a fantastic asset to the town. She handles both our payroll and our accounts payable." Gephart said Molinar will retire in January and staff planned to provide adequate transition time so the new specialist can learn payroll, year‑end and accounts‑payable procedures.

Gephart also briefly summarized recent and upcoming town council activity flagged for commission awareness: council approved new parks and recreation fees and set dates for a stormwater fee increase; the council will consider use tax, commercial lease tax and a telecommunications tax on Jan. 14, 2026; staff presented a study session on a potential state land annexation; council will seek direction on hiring the town attorney; and an item will request authorization to utilize budgeted contingency for the new police facility. Gephart said the council will also receive updates on Oro Valley tourism strategies.

Gephart and other staff emphasized the importance of a structured transition for payroll and accounts‑payable work and noted the department's historically low turnover. The new specialist's name was not stated in the commission record.