Benton County announced earlier this week the promotion of Rick Crager as its assistant county administrator.
“Rick has demonstrated a proven track record in financial management and bringing teams together,” Benton County Administrator Rachel McEneny said in a press release. “He has been an invaluable addition to our leadership team. After working closely with Rick, it was an obvious choice.”
Crager has served as Benton County’s chief financial officer since 2021 and served as interim county administrator in September 2023. As CFO, Crager shepherded Benton County’s more than $485 million 2023-25 biennium budget that passed in May 2023. In the same year, the county received a credit upgrade from Moody’s Investor Services.
“Rick’s ability to foster relationships, drive strategic projects, and his long-term knowledge of Oregon will help us navigate through our challenges effectively,” McEneny said.
Before joining Benton County, he dedicated over three decades to public service with the state. His statewide leadership roles in finance and policy spanned various sectors including housing, education, transportation and public safety.
Crager was also the former assistant superintendent of Finance and Information Technology for the Oregon Department of Education. In that role he collaborated closely with school districts across the state, overseeing the allocation and administration of resources for Oregon’s schools.
Crager, a lifelong Oregonian, is a graduate of Linfield College with a bachelor of science in accounting with a special focus in finance.