Nevada City, CA – Erin Mettler has been appointed as Nevada County’s chief fiscal officer beginning July 7. She has served as the County’s Health and Human Services chief fiscal and administrative officer since 2020, managing over $180 million budget, and has 23 years of experience in managing budgets and programs in local government.
“Erin is a seasoned fiscal and administrative professional with extensive experience in managing large-scale budgets, grants, and capital projects for local government,” said Nevada County’s Executive Officer Alison Lehman. “Within her four years at Nevada County, she has been instrumental in important initiatives such as establishing the Western Nevada County Local Housing Trust Fund, which has funded projects such as Cashin’s Field in Nevada City and phase two of Lone Oak Senior Housing in Penn Valley, bringing over 80 new housing units online.”
Nevada County’s current Chief Fiscal Officer Martin Polt is retiring in July after 11 years in the role and a total of 19 years working with Nevada County. “I am grateful to Martin who has always kept fiscal stability at the forefront of his work. Thanks to him and the Board’s fiscal prudence, we have the foundation to withstand budget uncertainties,” added Lehman.
This role also serves as an integral part of the County’s executive team as the deputy county executive officer. “What appeals to me most about this job opportunity is the potential to build upon a solid foundation of fiscal prudence and stretch our skills around innovative financing models for key projects and Board priorities,” said Mettler. “Having grown up in Nevada County and now choosing to raise my own family here, I have a significant vested interest in its success.”
Before joining the County, Mettler spent 19 years working in several roles within the City of Stockton’s police, housing, economic development and redevelopment departments. She worked on several capital project bond issuances, managed the downtown marina expansion and navigated her departments through the city’s bankruptcy as well as implemented a local tax measure to restore police services.
Mettler holds a master’s degree in leadership for the public sector from Saint Mary’s College of California and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of the Pacific. Mettler is a California State Association of Counties (CSAC) credentialed senior executive and a 2022 graduate of Nevada County’s Community Leadership Institute. She lives in Grass Valley near her parents, Jerry and Elaine Westfall, with her teenage son Justin.