Hardy

After a lengthy search, Davidson has hired its first finance director to help manage the increasingly complex finances at Town Hall. Eric Hardy, a former town official in Union County and Rock Hill, S.C., started Wednesday.

Mr. Hardy will work with Town Manager Leamon Brice and Town Clerk/Finance Officer Peggy Smith, as well as department heads. Mr. Brice said in an announcement he hopes Mr. Hardy will help “us find new ways to save money and make money for the town.”

The town, which has an annual operating budget of about $7 million, had been seeking a finance director since last year. It came close to hiring someone on a couple of occasions, and re-advertised the position in January before landing Mr. Hardy recently. He joins the town from Union County, where he was assistant director of business services, responsible for a $43 million dollar budget.

He also was a budget officer in Rock Hill and a budget analyst in Wilson, according to the town announcement. He holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School at Chapel Hill.

Mr. Hardy’s first task will be the 2009-10 budget. He also will work with the manager, finance officer and department heads to explore a variety of new financing schemes, including a possible special tax district for transit, as well as on improving the town’s financial reporting and forecasting.