POULSBO — In about one week, the only statements from Donna Bjorkman will be “go Mariners” and the only bottom lines she’ll be worrying about are the ones on a fishing pole.

After 14 years with the city, the Finance Director’s retirement officially begins April 1.

“It’s exciting. I’m really, really ready,” Bjorkman commented earlier this month.

Bjorkman, an Island Lake resident since 1979, was hired to head Poulsbo’s Finance Department by Mayor Mitch Mitchusson in 1990. Previously, she worked in the business office of the North Kitsap School District and then as a fiscal coordinator for the Educational Service District in Bremerton, managing finances for schools in four counties from one-room schoolhouses to more traditional sizes and larger. She said transitioning from school districts to city government didn’t seem like a stretch in her mind.

“It’s all government,” she said.

However, the one thing that attracted her to make the switch to municipal finance was the chance to do more “hands-on, nitty gritty accounting,” she said.

Budget Analyst Deb Booher worked with Bjorkman at the ESD and chose to move to Poulsbo at Bjorkman’s request. She said Bjorkman was a fun and fair manager, who trusted her employees to do their jobs and to come up with their own solutions to challenges.

“That’s one good thing about Donna, she really encourages you to branch out,” Booher said. “You were encouraged to really learn things to go outside of our level of comfort.”

Originally from Montana, Bjorkman’s family moved to Adna in Lewis County when she was young. The town was so small that her graduating class had 20 people in it.

“I’m the oldest of nine children, so when we moved in, the population of the town raised considerably,” she recalled with a chuckle.

Though she holds no college degrees in her field, Bjorkman has taken numerous courses through professional organizations. She also credited her knowledge to practical training from a handful of very influential managers at NKSD and EDS.

“I think 14 years ago, it was very easy to get this job without a degree but now it’s harder because there are many more experienced and educated people out there,” she commented.

Booher said education and training was one of Bjorkman’s top priorities as a manager.

“She was very concerned about education, making sure we were all getting more education,” Booher said. “She was supportive of learning more and she was very knowledgeable. Many people went to her with questions.”

Councilman Mike Regis agreed. As one of the newest members of the council’s Finance/Administration Committee, Regis said he got his first chance to work closely with Bjorkman this year and has been impressed with her ability to break down issues into easily understood concepts.

“She just gives me all the time I need to ask questions and she’s more than willing to explain all the little intricacies,” he commented. “Let’s face it, local government finance is truly an art. You need to stay on top of all the nuances in the economy while at the same time meet your audits. You’re constantly looking forward and backwards.”

One of Bjorkman’s first jobs as Poulsbo’s Finance Director was to buy a new financial computing system, which at the time cost about $40,000. The experience came back to her late last year when helping find a new system became one of her last tasks, as well — only this time, the cost could be $200,000-$300,000.

Other jobs over the years included changing the city’s utility billing system, and implementing new financial systems like Comprehensive Annual Finance Report (CAFR) and Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement 34 (GASB 34).

“The city has been a fantastic place to work,” Bjorkman said. “It’s very progressive as far as keeping up on the new things that come about. The job changed a lot over the years.”

Booher said the work Bjorkman spearheaded on implementing GASB 34 was landmark, since Poulsbo became one of the first cities in Washington to implement the standards. Poulsbo staff received numerous awards for the feat.

“Not only did we implement it, but we put on two or three training sessions where we’d help other jurisdictions,” Booher remembered.

When asked what she’d like to be remembered for, Bjorkman joked that staff would likely forget her soon after she left City Hall.

“But that I’m a fair leader, that would be good,” she finally answered.

Though she’s enjoyed her job for Poulsbo, Bjorkman said was also very relieved when she was recently notified she could end her tenure April 1 instead of November 1 as originally thought. One of the big reasons is that her husband retired in June 2003.

“So I’ve been dealing with him staying home and me going to work for almost one year,” she commented.

Retirement will bring the Bjorkmans travel in their fifth-wheel, fishing, golfing, hopefully a trip to Mariners’ spring training and much more time with their grandchildren. Her daughter’s family, including grandchildren ages 9, 5 and 1, lives in Poulsbo. Her son and future daughter-in-law are both members of the Washington State Patrol. For these reasons, Bjorkman said she plans to travel, but her home will always be in North Kitsap.

The job announcement for Bjorkman’s replacement closed March 19 and Mayor Donna Jean Bruce and a hiring committee hope to conduct interviews March 25. Bjorkman said if her replacement is brought in before her last day, she will help the new Finance Director get acquainted with the position.