Butler residents have good reason to regret the departure of Ralph D'Antonio as city treasurer.

D'Antonio, who was elected to a second term in November, has been the driving force behind modernization of the city's financial function.

Just as important, during his tenure, he has been outspoken regarding his opinions, whether or not other city officials welcomed those observations and accompanying suggestions.

For example, regarding the current budget year, he spoke out against the city opting for tax-anticipation borrowing when there was sufficient revenue on hand for the city to operate without such borrowing.

While there were those who disagreed with him, and his rocky relationship with City Clerk Bob Brehm is a matter of public record, it's refreshing when communities have officials with the backbone to question the status quo. Communities oftentimes get in trouble when their officials are too quick to consistently rubber-stamp the ways and attitudes of the past rather than asking whether things can be done better, differently, more efficiently and more in tune with changing times.

Fortunately for the city, D'Antonio was on board in his important position at a time when the city was evolving from a very financially troubled community to a municipality experiencing an increasingly sound financial foundation.

It is to be hoped that whoever is appointed to replace him is able to carry his successes forward — and also is willing to speak out on issues.

The treasurer's office actually has three responsibilities. In addition to handling the city's finances, the city treasurer also serves as treasurer of the Butler Parking Authority and as a tax collector for the Butler School District.

D'Antonio made improvements to the way parking permits are sold.

For the parking authority and city, he consolidated bank accounts as a means of streamlining the financial accounting process.

Meanwhile, during his stint as city treasurer, his office collected $60,000 in delinquent business privilege taxes in 2006 and more than $100,000 in 2007.

To his credit, D'Antonio also has embraced an attitude in which he has been willing to give credit where credit is due. Thus, instead of taking all of the credit for the delinquent business privilege tax collection success, as some officials might have been apt to do, he has been abundant with his credit to members of his staff.

He has heaped significant praise on staff members for helping to locate and pursue the offending businesses and, thus, improve the city's financial picture.

D'Antonio hasn't disclosed all of the thinking that led to his decision to leave at this time. His resignation is effective July 31.

"It was just time for me to go," he said.

But he got what can be judged as the ultimate compliment from Sara Pelligrini, a longtime employee of the treasurer's office, who called D'Antonio a "financial wizard."

"I've been here 18 years . . . and he has been the best one," she said.

Regardless of what directions D'Antonio chooses to pursue once his employment with the city is over, city residents can feel fortunate to have had his expertise in place at such a critical time.

He can take pride in helping to leave the city in better financial shape than when he arrived, and that is all city residents could have asked of him.