Richmond hires new revenue director touted as ‘seasoned’ finance pro
Ken Martinez, a financial administrator with more than two decades of experience, has been hired as Richmond’s next director of revenue administration, city officials announced Tuesday.
Martinez will serve in a key tax policy role in City Hall’s embattled Finance Department, which has seen significant staff turnover and vacancies in recent years and has often struggled to deliver high-quality service to city taxpayers.
Martinez most recently served in several municipal audit and collection roles in Colorado, including a stint in Denver’s treasury division.
In a news release, Richmond officials called Martinez a “seasoned” professional with “a talent for both technical excellence and operational efficiency.” His approach to public service, the announcement said, “emphasizes transparency and clear communication.”
"We're excited to welcome Ken to our team," said Director of Finance Letitia Shelton. "Revenue Administration touches every business and property owner in our city, and Ken's extensive experience in taxpayer service, collections, and compliance will help us serve our community more effectively. His collaborative approach and deep understanding of municipal finance will be invaluable as we continue improving our operations."
Richmond’s last director of revenue administration was Jaime Atkinson, who abruptly resigned in April following a series of errors with the city’s attempt to mail one-time tax rebate checks to Richmond property owners.
Martinez will officially begin at City hall on Dec. 15. His starting salary is $212,000, according to the city.
“I'm honored to join the City of Richmond and contribute to its financial health and stability," Martinez said in the city release. "Effective revenue administration is fundamental to delivering the services Richmonders deserve.”
City spotlights on-time issuance of tax bills
In a sign of how much room for improvement city officials see on financial issues, the city issued a second news release Tuesday highlighting the fact that it successfully sent out the first batch of 2026 real estate tax bills on time.
More than 70,000 bills went out this week to property owners or mortgage lenders who handle taxes. Payments are due Jan. 15.
A data problem with bills covering the second half of 2025 caused bills to accidentally be sent directly to homeowners instead of the mortgage companies that usually handle them.
Though billing taxpayers is one of the most fundamental actions local governments take, Mayor Danny Avula’s administration called the on-time issuance of the bills a “significant operational milestone for City Hall.”
“Getting the basics right matters,” Avula said in the release. “Historically, the city hasn’t always hit the mark on the fundamentals, and Richmonders feel that. On-time bills may seem simple, but they’re core to trust and confidence.”
Contact Reporter Graham Moomaw at gmoomaw@richmonder.org
