Dr. Kenneth Haskin, MPA, ICMA-CM has over 25 years of progressive, responsible experience in public management as a senior level administrator. His educational background includes graduate of Brinkley High School (Arkansas), Bachelors in Management from Henderson State University (Arkansas), and Master’s in Public Administration from Webster University (Missouri). He is credentialed by the ICMA, an active member of the Arkansas City Managers Association and Texas City Managers Association, involved within the National League of Cities, and a Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Board member.
Strategic planning, organizational management, collective problem solving, CIP/Infrastructure planning, financial/budgeting management, and communications are his major strengths. Prior to his involvement in municipal government, he served in the Little Rock, Arkansas area as Chief of Staff for the Pulaski County Circuit Court, Program Director for the Boys & Girls Club, and Case Manager for the Family Service Agency. Along with his tenures as city manager or assistant city manager, he has also served as economic development director and negotiated with many companies who either located or decided to remain within the city, i.e., Texarkana FedEx Distribution Center , a 150-acre water park and hotel/convention center, Cooper Tire, Inc. (planning to leave the city/stayed and expanded instead), Union Tank Car ( resulting in over 3 ,000 jobs and millions in private investment ).
Other achievements include numerous awards and multiple Certificates of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards from Government Finance Officers Association of the United States. He established Texarkana’s first Capital Improvement Plan, organized its first Tax Increment Finance District, and refinanced its Franchise Fee Bonds, lowering the interest rate and saving over $1.2 million. He established an incubator for small business growth with a Business Assistance and Incentive Program and the Texarkana Business Retention Program, decreasing the unemployment rate from 5.7 to 4.6 in less than three years. To utilize city funds more efficiently, he created Operation Restore, a water and sewer replacement plan, and One Street at a Time Program, a street rehab and restoration plan, and formed the Texarkana Workforce Initiative. He renegotiated the Public Safety Pension Plan, saving $10 million over the life of the plan. He regulated the City’s deficit by balancing its budget and implementing a strategic, conservative spending plan to stimulate economic growth, which ultimately increased the city’s fund balance from 40 days to 148 days and improved its bond rating to AAA.
Career Highlights At-a-Glance