Bill Poole is stepping down as the Director of the Alabama Department of Finance, a position he has held for five years. His departure is effective at the end of the current week, following an announcement made Monday morning regarding his decision. Governor Kay Ivey has announced Doryan Carlton will lead the department going forward. This transition comes as Governor Ivey’s time in office nears its conclusion and as state officials anticipate a potentially challenging fiscal year for Alabama.
Poole did not provide a specific reason for his departure in his statement. However, the Department of Finance clarified in a statement issued Monday afternoon that Poole "did not intend for the position to be a career-long role." The department further stated that his decision was not influenced by upcoming budget considerations.
In his personal statement, Poole expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him and for the opportunity to collaborate with Governor Ivey, legislative leadership, public servants, policymakers, educators, business leaders, and community leaders. He affirmed that while his professional roles would soon change, his relationships and his commitment to improving Alabama’s future would remain consistent.
Poole's exit precedes what he and several other officials have described as a potentially tight fiscal year for the state. Earlier this month, while addressing members of the Public Education Employee Health Insurance Plan board, Poole advised them to anticipate and prepare for significant budget constraints. He specifically noted that budgets for the Education Trust Fund were tightening and predicted a very challenging budget for the General Fund next year, suggesting this could lead to potential agency reductions in costs.
Before his tenure as Finance Director, Poole worked as an attorney. He served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 2010 to 2021, representing a House seat in the Tuscaloosa area. During his eleven years in the House, he chaired the House Ways and Means Education Committee, which held oversight responsibilities for the Education Trust Fund budget.
Governor Ivey confirmed that Doryan Carlton will take over the leadership of the Department of Finance. In her statement, Ivey praised Carlton for her extensive work on the state’s budgets within the executive budget office. The Governor credited Carlton's leadership as a contributing factor to Alabama not having declared proration at any point during her administration. Ivey conveyed her strong confidence in Carlton, noting that she works diligently with acute attention to detail. Governor Ivey stated her belief that Carlton would become a significant figure in the department, following in the tradition of previous leaders at the Department of Finance.
