Sacramento Assistant City Manager Retired

Leyne Milstein has announced her upcoming retirement after a career spanning over two decades with the city.

Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in People

Bold vector illustration of a neoclassical municipal building facade, representing city government administrative structure. — Sacramento Assistant City Manager Leyne Milstein will retire on December 30, following two decades of service as the city continues to address executive-level vacancies. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Sacramento Assistant City Manager Leyne Milstein submitted her resignation to the City Council this week. Her final day of service with the municipal government will be December 30.

Why it matters

The departure comes as the city continues to navigate leadership vacancies within its top administrative ranks. City Manager Maraskeshia Smith is now overseeing the recruitment process to fill multiple open assistant city manager positions.

Sacramento currently maintains four assistant city manager positions, one of which has been vacant since August 2025. Leyne Milstein, who served as interim city manager for one year, departs after working for the city since 2005.

The players

Leyne Milstein

She is the outgoing Assistant City Manager of Sacramento who previously served as the city's director of finance.

Maraskeshia Smith

She serves as the City Manager of Sacramento and is currently responsible for leading recruitment efforts for vacant executive roles.

Katie Dignan

She is a former assistant city manager who recently departed her position within the Sacramento city government.

Michael Jasso

He is a former assistant city manager who concluded his service to the city of Sacramento in March.

The details

Milstein first joined the city staff in 2005 before becoming director of finance in 2008 and ascending to assistant city manager in 2017. Her exit follows the recent departures of other assistant city managers, including Katie Dignan and Michael Jasso.

Leyne Milstein began her career with the city of Sacramento in 2005.
Milstein assumed the role of director of finance in 2008.
Milstein became assistant city manager in 2017.
A vacancy for an assistant city manager position opened in August 2025.
Milstein will conclude her tenure with the city on December 30, 2026.

Market Landscape

The transition reflects broader administrative turnover within municipal governments as cities struggle to maintain consistent leadership at the executive level. This move fits into a wider trend of talent migration and internal restructuring across Sacramento's departmental management.

Residents may notice shifts in municipal oversight as the city works to fill high-level administrative vacancies. The ongoing recruitment process aims to stabilize city operations following multiple departures in the assistant city manager office.

The takeaway

The departure of a long-term official like Milstein highlights the ongoing need for municipal governments to cultivate internal succession plans. Maintaining leadership continuity is essential for the effective management of city financial and operational policy.