DENVER - Today, Governor Jared Polis appointed Mark Ferrandino to lead the Office of State Planning and Budget (OSPB).
“Colorado’s economy is thriving and Mark is well-positioned to help propel our shared efforts with the legislature to ensure we have a more affordable, safer, cleaner Colorado today and for future generations,” said Governor Polis. “I am delighted to welcome Mark to this new role and look forward to working with the Joint Budget Committee and state legislature to build off the work Lauren Larson started to maintain strong budgetary reserves for a rainy day, to help save people money, and to craft a state budget that continues to build a Colorado for all.”
Ferrandino previously served as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR) in the Polis-Primavera administration, the Deputy Superintendent of Operations, the Chief Financial Officer of the Denver Public Schools (DPS), a member of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC), and as Speaker of the House of Representatives of Colorado.
“Setting budgets and funding priorities are among the most powerful tools governments have to make transformational change, and I am thrilled to begin serving in this position on behalf of Governor Polis, his administration, and Coloradans. In partnership with the Governor and state legislature, I look forward to bettering people’s lives through responsible budgeting,” said Mark Ferrandino.
Ferrandino succeeds Lauren Larson who is transitioning from her role as Director of the Colorado Office of State Planning and Budgeting. Larson has served the state of Colorado since 2012 and was appointed by Governor Polis in 2018. Previously she worked at the White House OMB as the Chief of the Treasury Branch for Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama and was President of the National Association of State Budget Officers.
The administration will announce the process for recruiting a new Executive Director of the Department of Revenue in the near future.