PHILADELPHIA – Mayor Jim Kenney today announced the departure of Budget Director Marisa Waxman, who is leaving City government to join the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Sabrina Maynard, currently the Chief of Staff in the Office of the Director of Finance, will become the City’s Budget Director, effective Monday, April 17.
“The City’s budget and finances are the foundation of all the services, opportunities, and solutions we’re proud to offer to residents, and Marisa’s leadership has benefitted everything that we do,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “I am grateful for her many years of service to Philadelphia, and especially appreciate her recent, crucial efforts as the City’s Budget Director to address the challenges presented by COVID-19 and chart a course towards recovery – all while creating better processes to improve equity and engagement. Marisa’s accomplishments and experience will serve her well in her new role with the U.S. Treasury and I wish her the greatest success. Being the Budget Director requires a comprehensive understanding of City finances and operations, and I am confident that Sabrina Maynard’s commitment to our Administration’s priorities and her years of experience in the Office of the Director of Finance have prepared her well to move the work forward.”
As the City’s Budget Director, Marisa oversaw the development and management of more than $10 billion in capital and operating spending each year. Previously, she served as First Deputy Revenue Commissioner, concentrating on revenue policy, regulation, and programs; as well as communications and intergovernmental affairs. Marisa began her career with the City of Philadelphia in the City Controller’s Office. She has also held positions with the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Property Assessment and Office of the Director of Finance. Marisa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Communications and Master’s of City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania. She will join the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Recovery Programs as the Director of the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, a part of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan that delivers $350 billion in support to 30,000 state, territorial, local, and Tribal governments.
“After almost 20 fulfilling and fascinating years of City service, I am tremendously grateful to have been given the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of fellow Philadelphians,” said Marisa Waxman. “As I move on to the federal government, I will carry with me lessons learned from my dedicated and talented colleagues about how to blend data-driven approaches with human-centered thinking to improve outcomes and equity for community members.”
“I am thrilled to return to Budget for this next chapter,” said Sabrina Maynard. “I look forward to working closely with the skilled professionals in Budget and Grants as the City’s finances continue to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, we’ll build on the equity and engagement work from the last several years as we continue to take meaningful steps towards making the City’s budget processes more inclusive.”
Sabrina Maynard has worked in the Office of the Director of Finance since 2016, serving as Chief of Staff since June of 2020, where she helped to create the Octavius Catto Scholarship at the Community College of Philadelphia and spearheaded efforts to train and improve communications with fiscal and administrative staff from throughout City government. Before becoming Chief of Staff, Sabrina worked at the City’s Department of Human Services as a finance analyst and in the Budget Office as an Assistant Budget Director. She earned a Master’s of Public Administration from the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and American Studies from Boston University.