Bangor finance director resigns after less than a year

August 5, 2026 - 03:18

Stephanie Kimball has resigned from her position as finance director for the city of Bangor, effective immediately. Her departure comes less than a year after she took on the role, leaving city officials to scramble for a replacement during a busy budget season.

Kimball was hired in early 2024, bringing with her a background in municipal finance from a previous post in a neighboring county. At the time, city leaders praised her experience and expected her to bring stability to the department, which had seen turnover in recent years. But her tenure proved brief, and the reasons for her sudden exit have not been publicly detailed.

City manager Debbie Laurie confirmed the resignation in a brief statement, saying Kimball left for personal reasons and that the city wishes her well. Laurie added that deputy finance director Tom Ouellette will step in as interim director while the city begins a search for a permanent hire. The search process is expected to take several months, and officials say they will prioritize finding someone with long-term commitment.

The timing is awkward. Bangor is in the middle of drafting its next fiscal year budget, with department heads already submitting spending requests. The finance office plays a key role in reviewing those numbers and projecting revenues, so the leadership gap could slow things down. Council members have been briefed on the situation and were told that Ouellette is capable of handling the workload, though some have privately expressed concern about the lack of continuity.

This marks the third finance director to leave the city in five years. Previous directors left for jobs in larger municipalities, and one retired mid-term. Local residents have not yet commented publicly, but the issue is likely to come up at the next city council meeting, where the interim arrangement will need formal approval.

Kimball's resignation letter was short and did not mention any disputes or policy disagreements. City records show she was earning an annual salary of $118,000. Her last day was Friday, and she has already returned her city-issued laptop and keys.