Mayor Eric Garcetti Monday appointed City Hall veteran Matt Szabo as deputy mayor overseeing the city budget and other financial and employee-related policies.

Matt Szabo will replace Rick Cole, the outgoing deputy mayor of budget and innovation, on July 6.

Szabo will stay on as Garcetti’s senior adviser on labor negotiations, but give up his post as a member of the Board of Public Works Commissioners.

Garcetti said Szabo’s “commitment to Los Angeles and extensive experience in City Hall will be invaluable as we continue our work to balance the budget and make our government work better.”

Szabo was deputy mayor under former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, also giving budget policy advice. He also previously handled communications duties for former Mayor Richard Riordan, then-City Councilwoman Wendy Greuel and the City Attorney’s Office.

Szabo said he’s “honored to have Mayor Garcetti’s confidence and look(s) forward to building upon the progress his Office of Budget and Innovation has made in restoring and expanding basic city services by making government more efficient, effective and innovative.”

In addition to helping Garcetti put together his annual budget proposal, Szabo will also oversee the City Administrative Officer, the Office of Finance, the Information Technology Agency, Personnel, Employee Relations, the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System and the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pensions.

— City News Service 

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