Volusia County Budget Director Aaron Van Kleeck has added a new title and is taking on additional duties and responsibilities to go with the promotion. On Tuesday, the Volusia County Council unanimously confirmed Van Kleeck as the Finance Department’s deputy director. A 19-year veteran of Volusia County government, Van Kleeck has been budget director since October 2020. He will continue to serve as budget director along with his new role of deputy finance director. While County Manager George Recktenwald selected Van Kleeck for the position, the county charter requires the Council to confirm the appointment.
“To say that he’s passionate about his job is definitely an understatement. He’s very well liked. He’s very approachable,” Recktenwald told the council in recommending Van Kleeck for the position. “When we hand him these challenges, he gets right on it.”
Council members enthusiastically supported the confirmation, giving Van Kleeck high praise in particular for making complex budget issues more easily understood.
“You have been incredibly helpful in explaining possibly some of the most complicated things that the county has to deal with,” County Chair Jeff Brower told Van Kleeck. “The numbers are complicated. It’s huge.”
Several council members also remarked that they hope Van Kleeck stays with county government for a lot longer.
“You’re a credit to this organization,” said council member Ben Johnson. “You’re one of those shining stars that we really hope to keep in the organization for many years to come.”
A lifetime Volusia County resident, Van Kleeck, started with the County as a supervisor in the Road & Bridge Division in August 2003. Following a stint in the County’s Parks, Recreation & Culture Division, Van Kleeck transferred into the budget office in January 2016 – first as a budget analyst, then a special projects coordinator and then operations manager before his promotion to budget director. In the budget office, his responsibilities have included preparation of the annual budget and five-year capital improvement plan, conducting cost-benefit analyses, monitoring budgets to ensure compliance, developing long-range cost estimates and conducting complex financial analyses. Following his confirmation, Van Kleeck thanked the council and county management for their support and gave a shout-out to his co-workers for their contributions.
“Thank you to my staff in the Management and Budget Division,” Van Kleeck said. “They are like a family to me, and I’m proud of the work they do. I couldn’t be successful in my role without them.”
Van Kleeck has a bachelor of science degree in business and a master’s degree in business administration, both from the University of Phoenix.
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