After 25 Years, Dexter Finance Director Leaves Behind Legacy of Stability

For nearly a quarter century, Marie Sherry has helped guide the financial health of the City of Dexter, quietly shaping the policies and practices that have kept the city on solid footing year after year.

Now, as she retires after more than 24 years of service, her last day was April 30, Sherry leaves behind more than balanced budgets. She leaves a system, culture and philosophy that have helped make Dexter one of the region’s most financially stable communities.

“Marie Sherry has truly embodied the heart of public service throughout her career,” says Dexter City Manager Justin Breyer. “In her twenty-four years with the city, she has always been dedicated to Dexter and its residents, including postponing her retirement to ensure her successor was fully prepared to carry the torch.” 

Part-Time Treasurer to Financial Leader

Sherry began her career with the city in 2001, stepping into a role that looked very different from the one she leaves today.

“It was just treasurer at the time,” she says. “The treasurer was elected and part time, and they outsourced the bookkeeping to a private bookkeeper. I was brought on because the manager at the time realized that they weren’t getting good financial information.”

From there, the position evolved. The city transitioned the treasurer role into a full-time, non-elected position and expanded responsibilities to include finance director duties, a result of Dexter’s growing and complex municipal finances.

Conservative Approach that Paid Off

Over time, Sherry’s influence extended beyond spreadsheets and audits. She became a key architect of Dexter’s financial philosophy, one rooted in conservative planning, collaboration and long-term thinking.

“We budget very conservatively,” she explains. “We under budget our revenue. That way, we kind of have a built-in savings coming in at the end of the year every year.”

That approach has allowed Dexter to build reserves, fund major projects and avoid excessive debt, particularly for community amenities like parks that have helped make the city an attractive place to live.

Building Stability Through Teamwork

But Sherry points to another, less visible factor behind the city’s success: a culture of shared responsibility across departments.

“We make sure that all of our departments buy-in to the finances,” she says. “So, for example, the water department knows exactly what’s going on in their budget all the time. They understand where their piece fits in with the big picture.”

That level of transparency and involvement, she said, creates both accountability and ownership across city departments, something she believes sets Dexter apart.

Weathering Downturns, Planning for Growth

Dexter’s financial strength today also traces back to decisions made before Sherry’s tenure. In the 1990s, city leaders made strategic investments in development that expanded the tax base and set the stage for long-term growth.

“Those decisions facilitated a period of probably 15 years of growth in our property tax,” she explains.

Even during difficult periods, including the 2008 economic downturn, the city’s conservative approach helped it weather the storm. That resilience illustrates what Sherry sees as the importance of a strong financial foundation. Without it, communities face difficult trade-offs.

“Your services are cut,” she explains. “They’re not available because there’s no money to operate them fully.”

By contrast, Dexter’s stability has enabled continued investment in services and amenities, reinforcing a cycle of growth and quality of life.

“If we didn’t have that strong financial basis in the city, we couldn’t have done the things that make people want to live here,” Sherry explains.

Still, she is quick to credit the broader team for that success.

“The culture of the people that work here is very strong, and that’s by design,” she says. “We all have the same kind of goal, which is making this a place that people want to come and live and visit.”

“Many residents may not realize that the parks, water, sewer, and roads projects they benefit from every day are a direct result of Marie’s behind-the-scenes work,” says Breyer. “Over the last twenty-four years, she supported virtually every major undertaking by the city by ensuring the necessary financial resources were available to bring those visions to reality.” 

The City Manager emphasizes, “Even if you never met her in the finance office, you can see her impact throughout the community.”

Throughout her career, Sherry also brought ideas back to Dexter from statewide organizations and professional networks, helping the city adapt and innovate.

“I’m always going out and getting information and bringing it back,” she says. “A lot of things that we’ve implemented here I learned from somebody else.”

As she steps away from full-time work, Sherry isn’t ruling out staying active. She may teach, take on part-time bookkeeping or simply enjoy time at her property up north.

Whatever comes next, her impact on Dexter is likely to endure.

For residents who may never have met her, Sherry’s legacy is reflected in something many communities struggle to achieve: steady finances, reliable services and a city that continues to grow with intention.

Legacy Recognized by the City

At its April 27 meeting, the Dexter City Council formally recognized Sherry’s career with a proclamation outlining the scope of her impact, from strengthening the city’s financial position to helping guide it through major transitions, including its change from village to city status.

The document highlights measurable results of her tenure, noting the city’s general fund balance grew from $142,678 in 2001 to more than $4.6 million in the 2024-25 fiscal year, and credits her with overseeing audits, budgeting practices and policies that earned consistent national recognition for financial reporting.

It also points to her broader influence, including service on statewide municipal committees, her role in implementing best practices and her work supporting virtually every major city project over the past two decades.

In closing, the city summed up her legacy in simple terms:

“The City of Dexter hereby expresses its sincere gratitude and appreciation to Marie Sherry for her many years of dedicated and exemplary service to the citizens of Dexter, and extends its best wishes for a happy, healthy, and fulfilling retirement.”

“Her commitment to Dexter has been nothing short of exemplary,” concludes Breyer. “She has been a pillar of our team’s stability, and her presence will be deeply missed by the City Council, our staff, and every individual who had the privilege of working alongside her.”

Featured photo: Marie Sherry, Dexter’s longtime finance director, retired April 30 after nearly 25 years of service helping guide the city’s financial stability. Photo by Doug Marrin.