Naperville's finance boss, Raymond Munch, is set to slide into one of DuPage County's top municipal gigs, with Wheaton tapping him as its next city manager. He is scheduled to formally take over on July 27, 2026, following a planned public introduction at the Wheaton City Council meeting on July 6, when his hire is expected to be made official. Munch will succeed longtime city manager Michael Dzugan and collect a base salary of $260,000, a package city officials say comes after an extensive executive search.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Wheaton's council selected Munch following a broad search led by MGT Executive Recruitment. The Daily Herald reports that the appointment includes a $260,000 base salary, with Munch slated for a formal introduction at the July 6 council meeting and an official start date of July 27.
Munch has served as Naperville's director of finance since May 2024 and previously worked as deputy finance director and budget manager, according to the City of Naperville. The Government Finance Officers Association's profile of Munch also notes earlier municipal roles in DeKalb and Carol Stream, along with a nearly 12-year career in law enforcement in Glen Ellyn and a Master of Public Administration from Northern Illinois University. It is a résumé that checks just about every municipal box: spreadsheets, squad cars and state-school credentials.
Replacing a Longtime Manager
Munch will take over from Michael Dzugan, who announced his impending retirement in September 2024 and had served as Wheaton's city manager since 2016, The Daily Herald reports. Dzugan's tenure included the 2017–23 Downtown Streetscape Project, a roughly $35 million overhaul of Wheaton's core business district that stands as one of the administration's signature capital efforts. Munch will be stepping into a role where big-ticket projects and long timelines are very much the norm.
Fiscal Experience in Focus
City leaders have zeroed in on Munch's finance background as a key reason for the hire, pointing to the need for steady oversight of both operating budgets and large capital projects. Local coverage and city budget materials show Munch has been involved in multi-year planning and reserve policies in Naperville, experience municipal officials say could prove useful as Wheaton navigates future projects and its broader fiscal outlook. For context on his recent work, see reporting from NCTV17 and the City of Naperville.
Next Steps
Munch is scheduled to be formally introduced at the Wheaton City Council meeting on July 6 and to assume the city manager role on July 27, with contract details and council packets expected to be released publicly ahead of those dates. Residents interested in following every line item and agenda summary can track meeting materials and future council packets via Wheaton's Agenda Center.
