Sentinel staff report–
Saturday is officially “Henry Tingle Day” in Citrus Heights, following a formal vote by the City Council in 2016 to make Sept. 30 a day to honor former City Manager Henry Tingle who led the city for 17 years and was credited with keeping the city out of debt during his tenure.
Under Tingle’s successor, Chris Boyd, the city soon went into debt by opening a $12 million line of credit. However, after Boyd retired, one of the first actions of current City Manager Ash Feeney was to recommend the council approve paying off the debt. The city returned to its debt-free status in March of last year.
From last year: Citrus Heights becomes a debt-free city again
Known as the “Gentle Giant” for his soft-spoken demeanor and tall stature, a tribute to Tingle remains etched in a plaque outside City Hall. The building was completed just before Tingle retired, and was paid for with city reserves.
Citrus Heights Mayor Tim Schaefer, who was critical of Boyd during his tenure, said in an email Tuesday that Feeney and Tingle share the same fiscal approach and said “perhaps one day we will have an ‘Ash Feeney’ day.”
One of Tingle’s fiscal tools, the use of a 10-year budget model, is still in use in Citrus Heights. Tingle said in a final interview with The Sentinel in 2016 that the 10-year model encourages decision-makers to look not just at immediate costs of a proposal, but their cost in the long-run, like with pay raises or community donations.
“Any adjustment you make in the first year, look over 10 years,” he said.
Read the full 2016 interview: Henry Tingle reflects on 17 years as Citrus Heights city manager
