New Palatine finance director has lofty goals

Andrew Brown may not wind up matching predecessor Paul Mehring’s more than two decades as Palatine’s finance director, but he plans to continue the same fiscal policies that helped keep Palatine debt free.

“It’s very difficult to top the excellence that Paul set forth for this village for two decades,” he said. “My goal is just to keep it moving in the same direction and to make sure that we are still viewed as a transparent and fiscally responsible entity.”

Palatine Village Manager Reid Ottesen said Brown brings a strong background in local government finance.

“He was very familiar with Palatine and our recent accomplishments related to our retirement of all outstanding debt, stable property tax levy and focus on sustainable pension funding,” he said. “He was committed to continuing these goals.”

A graduate of Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business, Brown received his master’s in accountancy from Elmhurst University.

Brown, 41, brings a background in municipal government that began as senior accountant in Cicero. He moved on to Buffalo Grove, where he was deputy director of finance and also interim finance director for a time.

He then served as finance director for Tinley Park and the DuPage County Forest Preserve District.

“I have dedicated myself to public service for 19 years, and I truly love it,” he said.

In addition to Brown’s passion for public service, he has a love for the sport of hockey.

Brown started skating at age 4 and played competitively through high school. He is in his 19th year of coaching. He is currently with the Chicago Hawks hockey club, coaching boys, girls and coed youth hockey teams. His pupils include his daughters.

“I am passionate about public service; by day managing the financial operations and stability of the village and by night developing high character athletes to become tomorrow’s leaders,” he said.