Tim Gage is a highly regarded public servant, having spent over 24 years as a fiscal advisor with both houses of the California Legislature and as the Director of the California Department of Finance. Mr. Gage was appointed Director of Finance in 1999 after over 20 years of legislative budget experience. In this capacity, he directed a staff of 350 in the development of the state's $100 billion budget, and oversaw its progress through the legislative process. He also directed representation of the Administration on 70 state boards and commissions and negotiated several major legal settlements.

In the Legislature, Mr. Gage served for four years as the chief fiscal advisor to two Presidents pro Tempore of the California State Senate, where he coordinated development of budget and fiscal issues for the Senate. Prior to moving back to the Senate, Mr. Gage served for seven years as the chief consultant to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, where he oversaw preparation of the state budget for the Assembly and the analysis of all financial legislation heard by the committee. Before this, Mr. Gage spent six years as the assistant fiscal advisor to the President pro Tempore of the Senate and three years as a Program Analyst in the Office of the Legislative Analyst. During his tenure in state service, Mr. Gage has specialized in state-local fiscal relations and tax policy.