Denton County Auditor Jeff May will step down March 31, 2027, ending eight years overseeing the county's financial operations.
May's retirement, announced by Denton County on Wednesday, Nov. 4, caps a 39-year career in government accounting and finance. He is finishing his fourth two-year term in the role.
The position matters locally. The county auditor must approve each claim, bill or account against the county before it can be paid. The office also handles budgetary control, debt management and internal auditing.
"It has been an honor to work for Denton County and has been a period of much growth as we dealt with everything from a pandemic to fast-paced growth," May said in the announcement.
During his tenure, May restructured county debt in a move the county said saved more than $30 million in future interest payments.
"Jeff has worked to save the county money and that, in turn, saves taxpayer dollars," Precinct 2 Commissioner Kevin W. Falconer said. "We are thankful for his commitment."
May and his team also created a local small-business grant program during the pandemic. The program distributed $31 million in grants from the $400 million allocated to Denton County.
Denton County Judge Andy Eads praised that effort. "We appreciate the time and effort that Jeff and his team gave the county during a period where we were trying to support our local economy," Eads said.
May also created a new team of auditors and led a project to modernize the county's financial system. The county has received its 40th annual award for a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.
The county auditor is not elected. District judges in Denton County appoint the auditor to two-year terms and set the office's salaries. Those judges will be responsible for selecting May's successor before his March 31 departure.
The county's announcement did not include details on a search timeline or interim plan for the office.
