Finance Director Pauline Sumption Retiring From City Service
FINANCE DIRECTOR PAULINE SUMPTION
RETIRING FROM CITY SERVICE
Sumption’s 23-year municipal career
includes years of service to Rapid City & Sturgis;
Leaving to become CFO of Dream Design International
RAPID CITY, SD—City Finance Director Pauline Sumption has announced her retirement after 15 years of service with the city, concluding a municipal government career spanning the last 23 years.
Sumption will retire effective September 22 to become the chief financial officer for Dream Design International, Inc. of Rapid City.
“After 23 years in municipal government, it’s time for me to ‘live in the uncomfortable’ as I call it, so that I can grow both personally and professionally,” said Sumption. “It’s been a pleasure and I have made some lifelong friends through the work I’ve done here and the time I’ve spent here.
“Working in city government is a way to give back to your community and in my new role, I’ll still be giving back to the community as Dream Design is heavily invested in the growth of the community and area through the development of numerous projects.”
A native of Yankton and a graduate of Northern State University in Aberdeen, Sumption began her municipal career in Sturgis in 1999. She said working in municipal government almost didn’t happen after she applied for the position with the City of Sturgis.
“I received a rejection letter from Mayor (Cliff) Linn and I thought that was that. But then he called about a week or so later wanting to reconsider and then he hired me.”
Sumption was hired by Rapid City Mayor Jim Shaw in 2007 as deputy finance director. She became City finance director in 2010, overseeing the department during the mayoral administrations of Alan Hanks, Sam Kooiker and Steve Allender.
Sumption has seen numerous changes in her municipal government career, especially in Rapid City. Her department oversees the budgets of 12 departments, two more than when she started in 2007. She has witnessed a number of technological advances and government efficiencies which she says “ironically has reduced the amount of in-person interface with the public because they have more options for making payments, make inquiries, etc.”.
Mayor Allender shared his appreciation for Sumption’s work.
“Pauline has dedicated her professional life to serving the public, first to the people of Sturgis and for the last 15 years, the people of Rapid City,” Mayor Allender said. “Pauline has impressively addressed the challenges that come with being the chief financial officer for South Dakota’s second-largest city. She has approached every day of her service to our community and its citizens with dedication, commitment and the highest degree of professionalism - maintaining a critical eye to the city’s finances, budget and overall financial well-being. Given her abilities and her dedication, it’s no surprise she was recognized this year as the Finance Officer of the Year for South Dakota by the South Dakota Government Finance Officers Association.
“I have appreciated her dedication, her guidance, her spirit of teamwork and commitment and her friendship. I am grateful and thankful for her service and wish her all the best.”
In June, Sumption was named Finance Officer of the Year for the state by the South Dakota Governmental Finance Officers’ Association. She is past president of the South Dakota Municipal League Board of Directors, the South Dakota Governmental Finance Officers’ Association and the regional Black Hills Area Finance Officers Group.
Mayor Allender indicates the city’s options could include naming an interim finance director while engaging in a detailed process to fill the finance director position. Anyone interested in the position can visit the City’s website at rcgov.org or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with questions.