City Manager
Dr. Kenneth Haskin, MPA, ICMA-CM
Dr. Kenneth Haskin, MPA, ICMA-CM has over 25 years of progressive,
responsible experience in public management as a senior level
administrator. His educational background includes graduate of Brinkley
High School (Arkansas), Bachelors in Management from Henderson State
University (Arkansas), and Master’s in Public Administration from
Webster University (Missouri). He is credentialed by the ICMA, an active
member of the Arkansas City Managers Association and Texas City
Managers Association, involved within the National League of Cities, and
a Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Board member.
Strategic planning, organizational management, collective problem
solving, CIP/Infrastructure planning, financial/budgeting management,
and communications are his major strengths. Prior to his involvement in
municipal government, he served in the Little Rock, Arkansas area as
Chief of Staff for the Pulaski County Circuit Court, Program Director
for the Boys & Girls Club, and Case Manager for the Family Service
Agency. Along with his tenures as city manager or assistant city
manager, he has also served as economic development director and
negotiated with many companies who either located or decided to remain
within the city, i.e., Texarkana FedEx Distribution Center , a 150-acre
water park and hotel/convention center, Cooper Tire, Inc. (planning to
leave the city/stayed and expanded instead), Union Tank Car (resulting
in over 3 ,000 jobs and millions in private investment).
Other achievements include numerous awards and multiple Certificates of
Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and Distinguished
Budget Presentation Awards from Government Finance Officers Association
of the United States. He established Texarkana’s first Capital
Improvement Plan, organized its first Tax Increment Finance District,
and refinanced its Franchise Fee Bonds, lowering the interest rate and
saving over $1.2 million. He established an incubator for small business
growth with a Business Assistance and Incentive Program and the
Texarkana Business Retention Program, decreasing the unemployment rate
from 5.7 to 4.6 in less than three years. To utilize city funds more
efficiently, he created Operation Restore, a water and sewer replacement
plan, and One Street at a Time Program, a street rehab and restoration
plan, and formed the Texarkana Workforce Initiative. He renegotiated the
Public Safety Pension Plan, saving $10 million over the life of the
plan. He regulated the City’s deficit by balancing its budget and
implementing a strategic, conservative spending plan to stimulate
economic growth, which ultimately increased the city’s fund balance from
40 days to 148 days and improved its bond rating to AAA.
Career Highlights At-a-Glance
- Received many accolades and awards over the past 8 years,
including multiple Certificates of Achievement for Excellence in
Financial Reporting and Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards from
the Government Finance Officers Association of the United
States.Initiated the Texarkana FedEx Distribution Center.
- Recruited Union Tank Car and other major industry resulting in
over 3, 000 jobs and millions in capital investment. Established the
City's first CIP Plan (Capital Improvement Plan)Recruited new developers
to Texarkana.
- Created a public private partnership with developers to build a 150-acre Water Park and a Hotel/Convention Center.
- Negotiated a multi-million-dollar incentive package between Cooper Tire Inc., and the City of Texarkana, Arkansas.
- Refinanced the City of Texarkana, Arkansas Franchise Fee Bonds,
and it essentially lowered the interest rate and saved the city over
$1.2 million.
- Established an incubator for small business growth in Texarkana,
Arkansas, and the unemployment rate decreased from 5.7 to 4.6 in less
than 3 years.
- Organized the City’s first Tax Increment Finance District (TIF).
- Upgraded the City’s Bond Rating.
- Operation Restore – water and sewer replacement plan.One Street at a Time Program - street rehab and restoration plan.
- Constructed the Business Assistance and Incentive Program.
- Formulated a new business friendly permitting system.
- Formed Texarkana’s Workforce Initiative.Assembled the Texarkana Business Retention Program.
Contact
401 Independence Street
Cape Girardeau, MO 63703
573-339-6320 Phone
573-339-6302 Fax
[email protected]