Meet Bill
Bill McCarty, Independent candidate for Mayor of Springfield, Illinois
A Springfield public finance leader who served 12 years as the City's Budget Director, ran the Village of Williamsville as its Mayor, and now serves as CFO of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
- Hometown
- Springfield, Illinois; graduate of Sacred Heart-Griffin High School
- Education
- Master of Public Administration, University of Illinois SpringfieldBBA in Finance, University of Notre Dame
- Current role
- CFO, Illinois Board of Higher Education
- City service
- Budget Director, City of Springfield, 2011–2023
- Prior office
- Village President (Mayor), Williamsville, elected at age 29
- Home
- Springfield, Illinois
William "Bill" McCarty grew up in Springfield and graduated from Sacred Heart-Griffin High School. He holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Illinois Springfield and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Notre Dame.
He spent two decades inside state and local government budgets. He began as a Medicaid and agency budget analyst in the Governor's Office of Management and Budget, became Chief Financial Officer of the Bureau of Property Management at Illinois Central Management Services, and from 2011 to 2023 served as Director of the City of Springfield's Office of Budget and Management.
Before that, he was elected Village President (Mayor) of Williamsville at age 29, where he led every municipal department, guided the annual budget, and served as de facto chief financial officer.
Why he is running
Springfield needs a mayor who can read a budget, repair a deficit, and explain city decisions to residents plainly. Bill is running to restore financial stability, rein in utility costs, strengthen public safety and city services, and bring a stalled Downtown back to life.
People ask me all the time, "Why would you leave a great job to do this?" I do love my current job and the people I work with, but the answer is simple. Working to improve not one, but two communities was the most rewarding work of my life and I’m excited for the opportunity to do it again.
Where to go next
The McCarty family · Photo: Tara Long Photography
Family
Bill, Penny, Declan, and Carter.
Bill and his wife, Penny, have been married for 27 years. Their son, Declan, attends Lincoln Land Community College, and their daughter, Carter, is a student at Rochester High School.
Penny is deeply involved in the Springfield community, giving her time and leadership to organizations that serve residents across the city.
Penny's community service
- Served five years on the United Way board, including a term as board chair in 2025.
- Served three years on the Muni board of directors.
- Served six years on the Hoogland Center for the Arts board of directors.
- Currently serves on the University of Illinois Springfield alumni board.
- Mentored students through Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Expertise
Twenty-plus years running the numbers behind government.
Municipal budgeting
Prepared appropriations for the City's 40+ funds and tracked revenue and expenditure trends.
Public finance
Accounting, audits, revenue projections, grants, procurement, and payroll for about 1,400 city employees.
City operations
Oversaw facilities and a fleet of 1,000+ city vehicles and pieces of equipment.
Emergency management
Led the State's CMS Office of Emergency Management and 600 State buildings.
Executive leadership
Elected Mayor of Williamsville, leading public works, administration, and police.
Health and policy analysis
Lead Medicaid budget analyst on provider lines exceeding $4 billion.
Experience
A career in public service.
Feb 2025 – Present
Chief Financial Officer
Illinois Board of Higher Education
- Oversees accounting, budgeting, payroll, procurement, fiscal grant administration, and agency fleet operations.
- Responsible for fiscal review, approval, and dissemination of grants and for the agency's annual budget request.
Jul 2023 – Feb 2025
Chief Operating Officer
Illinois Central Management Services
- Oversaw the Bureau of Property Management, State and Federal Surplus, the LESO Program, and the CMS Office of Emergency Management.
- Property Management is CMS' largest bureau, responsible for facilities, leasing, security, and fiscal needs across 600 State buildings.
- Emergency Management works with IEMA to prepare for and respond to disasters and to keep State operations running.
May 2011 – May 2023
Director, Office of Budget and Management
City of Springfield
- Oversaw accounting, payables, budgeting, payroll, procurement, fleet services, and facility maintenance; served as liaison to the City Council, media, and the public.
- Prepared annual appropriations for 40+ funds and examined the fiscal impact of pending legislation.
- Administered procurement for the City and its utilities under the City's procurement code.
- Ran payroll for roughly 1,400 employees and fleet services for 1,000+ vehicles and pieces of equipment.
Oct 2007 – May 2011
Chief Financial Officer, Bureau of Property Management
Illinois Central Management Services
- Led budgeting and fiscal oversight of $200+ million in annual appropriations and a payables team processing 30,000+ invoices a year.
- Coped with a 20% staff reduction by redesigning payables procedures.
- Reworked facility rate development so client bills went out two months earlier, speeding revenue and steadying vendor payments.
- Instituted cost allocation procedures in the Surplus Property program to resolve continuing audit concerns.
Jun 2006 – Oct 2007
Federal Finance Manager / Budget Analyst
Illinois Central Management Services
- Set policy on cost allocation and federal reimbursements and worked to maximize federal dollars.
- Projected future liability and funding needs for the State employee life insurance program.
Apr 2005 – Apr 2009
Village President (Mayor)
Village of Williamsville
- Chief executive over all municipal departments, including public works, administration, and the police force.
- Guided trustees through the annual budget, led strategic planning, and presided over village board meetings.
Nov 2000 – Oct 2003
Analyst I and II, Lead Medicaid Analyst
Governor's Office of Management and Budget
- Analyzed hospital, pharmaceutical, and other Medicaid provider lines with appropriations above $4 billion.
- Budget analyst for the Departments of Insurance and Healthcare and Family Services and liaison to the Governor's office.
Education
University of Illinois Springfield
Master of Public Administration
December 2009
University of Notre Dame
BBA in Finance
May 1998
Sacred Heart-Griffin High School
Springfield, Illinois
Leadership and community service
- President, Illinois Government Finance Officers Association Executive Board (2021–2022); board member 2016–2023; Chair, Legislative Committee
- Member, Illinois Municipal League Policy and Legislative Committees (2018–2023)
- Board of Directors, National Association of Fleet Administrators (2023–present); Chair, U.S. Government Affairs Committee (2017–2023)
- Trustee, Springfield Police and Fire Pension Boards (2012–2023)
- Executive Board, The Parent Place of Springfield (2010–present); President 2016–2020
- Executive Board, MERCY Communities (2010–2013)
- Member, Springfield Chapter of AMBUCS