Olszewski Names Director of Budget and Finance

June 24, 2019

Veteran Deputy Nominated as Permanent Director

County Executive Johnny Olszewski today nominated Edward Blades to serve as the Director of Budget and Finance, a critical position that oversees formulation of the County budget and manages the County’s finances.

Blades has served as Deputy Director of Budget and Finance since 2012, and has served in the County’s Office of Budget and Finance since 1996. In his role as Deputy Director, he has played a critical role in developing and managing the County’s operating and capital budgets, and he has supervised a talented team of budget analysts. He has implemented various budget and financial software system upgrades and developed reporting structures to generate efficiencies in data collection and analysis.

“Ed is a dedicated public servant who brings to this position years of relevant experience and a wealth of institutional knowledge,” Olszewski said. “He knows County government inside and out, and has been invaluable over the last few months as we managed a challenging budget season and addressed a structural deficit.”

In his role as Director of Budget and Finance, Blades will be charged with managing the annual operating and capital budget formulation process, as well as overseeing:

  • 911 Communications Center
  • Accounting
  • Insurance Administration
  • Investment and Debt Management
  • Payroll
  • Property Management
  • Purchasing
  • Retirement
  • Taxpayer Services
  • Vehicle Operations and Maintenance

In his new role, Blades will also oversee efforts to increase transparency into the County budget. Earlier this month, the County unveiled an Open Budget platform, providing more transparency into how the County spends taxpayer dollars.

Blades has been serving as acting director of Budget and Finance following the retirement of his predecessor, Keith Dorsey, who served with the County for 35 years. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix.

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