Port Orchard’s new city treasurer Allan J. Martin will report to work on Monday, as he prepares to replace Kris Tompkins after a 28-year tenure.

The appointment was formally announced at Tuesday night’s city council meeting, where Coppola said that Martin’s experience in bond financing would benefit the city during the annexation process.

“We are really lucky to get someone of his caliber,” Coppola said. “He is skilled in bond issues and will help us through the period of annexation and growth that we expect will take place during the next few years.

Martin, 55, will work closely with Tompkins and getting acquainted with the City’s staff and financial systems.

Tompkins is expected retire sometime in August.

“It’s an opportunity for me to put my experience to work in local government,” Martin said, “Because the reality is, local government is where the rubber meets the road.”

Martin’s starting annual salary will be $100,882.08.

Tompkins originally suggested Martin as her successor. Both are members of the Washington Municipal Treasurer’s Association (WMTA), and have worked together on WMTA projects.

Martin served as Deputy State Treasurer for eight years previous to being named as second in command of the state’s checkbook by State Treasurer Mike Murphy, who retired in January.

Martin took an extended vacation, then began seeking out other opportunities.

During this search he concentrated on local government, which he compared to the different size gears inside of a watch.

“The smaller gears turn over every week,” he said. “Others turn each month or year, and you need to complete a task at the end of their cycle. You have all of these functions, each with different requirements, that need to work together.”

Martin said that a treasurer needs to be transparent, with the office’s operation made clear to the public and the city government.

“The best thing that I can do is provide the proper financial information so that the council can make the most informed decisions,” he said.

The City made the offer to Martin two weeks ago, but he was considering other options.

“Kris Tompkins has run the Finance Department very skillfully for a long time, and we have her to thank for the relative financial health of our City in comparison to many others,: Coppola said. “Allan had his choice of a number of prime positions to accept, and I believe it speaks highly of our city, what’s been accomplished in a relatively short period, and where we’re going, to be able to attract someone of his caliber.”

Martin is married, with three grown children and one grandchild.

He plans to initially commute from Olympia but will eventually buy a home in Port Orchard.