Anderson County budget director resigning to take Lake City job

CLINTON—Chris Phillips, Anderson County accounts and budget director, has resigned his position effective Feb. 21 to take a job as city recorder in Lake City.

“As many people know, Lake City is my hometown,” Phillips said in a press release. “They have struggled for the last few years in keeping someone qualified in the city recorder’s position.”

Phillips said the state mandates that each municipality must have a certified municipal finance officer on staff, and his designation as a certified government financial manager satisfies this requirement.

“Lake City is embarking on an historical time with the change to become Rocky Top,” Phillips said. “The leaders of Lake City have reached out to me, and I felt compelled to contribute in the areas (in which) I have considerable skill, education, certification, and experience.”

Phillips has worked for Anderson County Government for 11.5 year. He was hired in 1999 as a staff accountant. He was soon named deputy budget director under Gail Cook. Then, in April 2008, then-Mayor Rex Lynch hired Phillips as budget director.

“It’s my sincerest wish to thank the leaders here in Anderson County Government that have embraced me and that I have worked with over the last several years,” Phillips said. “I love my job here with the county and will miss the relationships that I have built with Mayor Frank, commission, all of the elected officials, and the employees of the County. This decision was not an easy one, and took considerable time to ultimately arrive at. It is my hope that this decision does not negatively impact the county, Mayor Frank or the wonderful staff that I have had the privilege to work with over the last several years.”

“We are going to miss Chris, not just as our budget director, but as a friend,” Frank said. “He has a big personality, and his departure is most definitely going to leave a hole. At his heart, Chris is entrepreneur—he likes a challenge. I know he is going to do great things for Lake City.”

Frank said the search process for a new budget director is already under way.

“I’m sure I speak for many when I wish him all the luck in the world,” Frank said of Phillips.