Budget Director Plans Return To Private Sector

State budget director Michael Brassey will leave the Batt administration at the end of October to return to private law practice.

Brassey, who has run the Division of Financial Management since early 1996 after a year as head of the Department of Insurance, said on Friday that he made the decision to leave government several months ago.

He said Gov. Phil Batt’s announcement 3-1/2 weeks ago that he would not seek a second four-year term played no role in his decision.

Brassey will join the firm of Bill Roden, a former state senator considered one of Idaho’s most effective lobbyists.

Batt said retired state Adjutant General Darrell Manning, who is now serving as acting director of the Office of the State Board of Education, will take over the budget office and take the administration through its final legislative session this winter.

Brassey’s departure, Batt said, should have no negative effect on development of the final budget proposal of his term.

“This has been coming up for some time,” the governor said. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with our relationship.”

Brassey will work with Manning during a transition period, Batt said.