North Carolina Wake County GOP issued the following announcement on Aug. 5.
City Manager Ruffin Hall has announced his retirement from the City of Raleigh effective December 31, 2020.
Hall served as the City’s chief executive since November of 2013. In that time Raleigh acquired and developed the master plan for Dorothea Dix Park, approved and implemented the Wake County Transit Plan, opened Raleigh Union Station, a renovated Moore Square Park, a new Central Communications Center, a central operations facility, and numerous parks and community centers. The City revised its economic development policies to better reflect a growing and robust economy while looking for ways to assist small business, particularly during the COVID pandemic. Additionally, the City implemented programs to assist those in greatest need such as a new affordable housing plan and funding support for Oak City Cares – a facility in partnership with Wake County to better serve our homeless population. Raleigh continues to enjoy a strong reputation and remains on numerous Top 10 lists for best places to live, work, and play.
“Serving as the City Manager of Raleigh has been the most rewarding and proud moment of my entire career. I am so grateful of all that we’ve accomplished together. After 25 years of local government service and 7 years as City Manager, I’ve decided it is time for me to retire. I’m ready to explore other opportunities and spend more time with my family,” said Ruffin Hall. “I am very appreciative of all the support I’ve received from the Mayor and Council. While there is never an easy time to leave, it was important for me to make this transition before the next budget process and City Council election.”
Under Hall’s leadership, the City developed new organizational values and a Strategic Plan, adopted a new compensation system and living wage, instituted the first citizen survey, and implemented a new City brand. Financially, the City has a AAA bond rating from all three credit rating agencies for both the General Fund and Water/Sewer and provided a framework for voter approved bond referenda in 2014 for $92m for Parks and 2017 for $207m for Transportation. The last two City budgets recommended by Hall and approved by Council included no property tax rate increases.
Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said, “Seven years ago when the City Council hired Ruffin, we set goals for him to make city government more efficient and strategic. We outlined areas that needed attention, such as a dedicated funding stream for affordable housing, a modernized communications program and city brand, and a more robust commitment to public-private partnerships -- the types of partnerships that helped build Oak City Cares and the Southeast Raleigh YMCA," said Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin. "Under Ruffin's leadership, we have made huge strides in all these areas, expanded and improved our services, and grown a visionary management team. While we will miss him, we also recognize that his positive impact on the City will be felt for years to come."
The Raleigh City Council will be charged with hiring a new City Manager. Hall has agreed to stay through the end of December to assist with the transition.
Original source: https://raleighnc.gov/news/2020-08-05-raleigh-city-manager-ruffin-hall-announces-retirement
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