With impending departure of finance director, Redding sees yet more turnover in city leadership
Yesterday the city announced Greg Robinett is vacating his role as finance director, but will continue serving in his elected position as Redding’s treasurer. This is the fifth vacancy to emerge among Redding’s government leadership this year alone.
Greg Robinett, Redding’s finance director, will be pursuing a new job opportunity, the city announced Aug. 24. His last day in office is Friday, Sept. 11.
“This was an extremely difficult decision for me, but a great opportunity has come up for my family that I can’t turn down,” Robinett said in a city press release, addressing his decision to leave his position. “I am extremely grateful to my staff, City leadership, and the Redding community for the opportunity to serve as Finance Director.”
He is the latest in a series of city leaders Redding has lost this year, for reasons including death, retirement, and job changes. He’s also the second in the last week to announce his departure.
Robinett was appointed as the city’s finance director in 2023, after working in various city accounting and financial positions since 2014. The finance director oversees the city’s financial services, which includes the city’s accounting, producing financial reports, and helping manage and develop the city budget.
During his tenure as director, Redding grappled with difficult financial decisions related to a $5 million budget deficit in 2025. Robinett also came under fire for his management of city finances from Council member Tenessa Audette, who is running for reelection this fall.
The press release said Robinett plans to continue to serve in his elected role as city treasurer through the end of his term in 2028. In his continued role as treasurer, an elected position, he will still manage the city’s cash flow, ensuring that Redding remains compliant with state regulations, administering infrastructural improvements through district bonds when applicable, and managing the city’s investment portfolio.
After Robinett’s last day next month, Redding will begin the recruitment process to find a new finance director, according to the press release. Michael Webb, Redding’s interim city manager, could not be reached for comment about how the city is dealing with its wave of turnover, including Robinett’s impending departure and the need to replace him in his role.
Webb himself is currently holding two other roles in addition to his city manager job, serving as the director of public works and the assistant city manager. He unexpectedly stepped into the interim city manager position as a result of the sudden passing of former City Manager William Tarbox earlier this summer.
Do you have information or a correction to share? Email us: editor@shastascout.org.
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What were Mr. Robinette’s qualifications to hold the position of CFO? It is common in Redding that jobs are given based on family and friendships not qualifications. This explains why the city is a complete mess.
Government employees -better say useless bureaucrats- don’t produce anything tangible that is productive to the national economy, yet their salaries are a real burden to taxpayers.
Salaries paid by the City of Redding are totally detached from reality while comparing them with the private sector (public employee pay significantly exceeds the local private-sector median income).
Wondering if these good-for-nothing will be willing to work for the minimum wage.
So tired of ignorant comments like this. There is a reason why we need educated and experienced people in government.
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We’ve already tried a little social experiment locally where we replaced experienced people with people who have no experience or training.
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How’s that been going?? Can most people say they are better off today in Shasta county than they were 4 years ago?
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One last comment: Mr ‘Bachman’, you do realize that their pay is also a part of our local economy? You start cutting everyone’s salaries then you are also cutting out some income of other local businesses.
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In other words, if we just started to indiscriminately cut salaries across the board like you seem to be suggesting, then everybody would be worse off, not better.
Call me crazy, but I believe everyone deserves to have a living wage. It’s almost like if people have more spending money, they spend their money within the community.