For the second year in a row, the city of Yakima is losing a finance director.
Viren Mayani left his position as city finance director on Feb. 28 after helping city council craft a budget for 2025. City Manager Vicki Baker hired him in August 2024.
Mike Bailey, a former finance and IT director in Lynnwood, Renton and Redmond, is serving as the city’s interim finance director. Bailey previously served as a financial consultant for the city as it pursues a priority-based budgeting strategy.
Mayani was in the role for six months. According to a separation agreement between Mayani and the city, he left the job amicably and will be paid four months of severance, over $50,000.
“It is the intention of the parties that employee’s separation be on an amicable basis,” read the agreement signed by Mayani and Baker.
The agreement requires the city to make positive remarks about Mayani to other employers and prevents Mayani from making disparaging comments about the city in public.
Mayani joined the city in 2024 after working in the private and public sector in Atlanta and helped the officials put together a balanced budget for 2025 with minor cuts and changes despite facing a $7 million shortfall in its general fund.
The city faces a larger $9 million shortfall in 2026 and is gathering community input to craft that budget.
Mayani’s separation agreement includes severance pay at his $81.11 per hour pay rate for four months starting March 1, which totals more than $50,000.
City Communications Director Randy Beehler said including severance payments in such an agreement is up to the city manager.
Baker said she would not comment on personnel matters.
Mayani replaced Mark Roberts, who left the finance director position in February 2024 after less than four months in the role. Roberts, who was brought on by former City Manager Bob Harrison, said he left due to changes in city leadership. Yakima City Council fired Harrison in January.
Beehler said Roberts did not receive severance pay when he left.
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