The City of Sacramento has appointed Leyne Milstein as Interim City Manager while the search for a permanent leader continues. The appointment was approved by a unanimous vote from the City Council this week, as first reported by the Sacramento City Express. Milstein began her role on Tuesday, overseeing a workforce of more than 6,000 employees and an annual operating budget of over $1.6 billion.
Milstein will oversee the city's fiscal and administrative operations as she helps guide its future direction, commitments detailed during Tuesday's City Council meeting where Mayor Kevin McCarty praised her preparedness to "step up and serve in this position as we recruit over the next few months," according to the Sacramento City Express. Milstein's appointment marks her as the first woman to serve as Interim City Manager.
Milstein's tenure with the city dates back to 2008, including serving as Assistant City Manager since 2017, after leading the Finance Department from 2008 to 2017. Her career has focused on finance, policy development, and strategic program implementation across various departments, such as Human Resources and Information Technology. She has also contributed to key initiatives in cannabis policy and efforts to promote diversity and equity within the city. "I am honored to serve as Interim City Manager and to continue working with our dedicated City staff, City Council, and community," Milstein shared, emphasizing a concerted effort to balance finances while safeguarding city services amid upcoming labor negotiations, as reported by the Sacramento City Express.
Before her work with the city, Milstein held positions at the Department of Finance and the State Public Works Board. Her educational background includes a political science degree from UC Davis and a master's in public administration from CSU East Bay. Additionally, she has held leadership roles, including President of the Fiscal Officers Department for the League of California Cities, and served in various capacities within the Government Finance Officers Association, all of which reflect her experience in fiscal management and public governance.
In December, the Sacramento City Council chose not to renew former City Manager Howard Chan's contract, prompting a transition period during which Milstein assumed the role of Interim City Manager. The Council is currently conducting a national search to find a permanent City Manager who can meet the needs of the city.
