South Lake Tahoe, CA (August 21, 2026) — After 18 years of service with South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD), General Manager Paul Hughes has announced his retirement. A national recruitment is underway to find his successor.

Hughes joined the District in 2008 as Chief Financial Officer and served in that role for 15 years before becoming General Manager in 2023. During his 35-year career in public finance and administration, Hughes also worked for the California State Association of Counties, County of Modoc, City of Brookings, and City of Troutdale.

Reflecting on his 18 years at STPUD, Hughes said the people have been the most rewarding part of his career.

“Working with the people at STPUD, by far, has been the highlight,” Hughes said. “STPUD has been very fortunate to recruit and retain extremely talented individuals. It makes a huge difference.”

During his tenure, Hughes helped guide the District through significant financial and operational challenges, including the Great Recession, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Caldor Fire. He credited District employees for working together to maintain continuous water and wastewater service through difficult circumstances.

“Looking back, one thing I’m most proud of occurred during the Great Recession of 2008,” said Hughes. “We were able to completely avoid employee layoffs by addressing declining revenues through strategic operational and administrative cost management.”

Hughes leaves the District with a strong record of fiscal management and infrastructure investment. Hughes led the District to consistently balance its budgets, secure grants and low-interest financing, and complete major infrastructure projects while keeping rates among the lowest in the Tahoe Basin.

“I’m proud of the amount of infrastructure investment we’ve been able to make to ensure our systems are prepared for now and the future,” Hughes said.

As CFO and General Manager, Hughes played an important role in securing low-cost financing that saved the District millions of dollars and helped fund critical water and wastewater improvements. He is also proud of the District’s history of successful clean financial audits, which reflect its commitment to prudent fiscal management.

Hughes credits former General Manager Richard Solbrig with playing an important role in his career and said he thoroughly enjoyed the mentorship he received from Solbrig.

As he prepares to retire, Hughes expressed his gratitude to the District’s Board of Directors, employees and the community for giving him the opportunity to lead STPUD.

“I’m incredibly grateful that the Board gave me the opportunity to lead such an amazing organization,” Hughes said. “In my time at the District, this agency has been very lucky to have effective Boards of Directors. Thank you to staff, the Board and the community for the opportunity to work with you and serve you.”

Board President Shane Romsos expressed his appreciation for Hughes’ service, saying, “On behalf of the Board of Directors and the entire District, I want to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to Paul for his dedicated service and leadership. During his tenure, Paul has helped guide the District through different challenges and opportunities while maintaining a strong commitment to our employees, customers, and community. We are grateful for the experience, professionalism, and the lasting contributions made to the organization. We wish Paul and his family all the best and a well-deserved retirement.”

While he will miss working with District employees each day, Hughes is looking forward to enjoying more of what Lake Tahoe has to offer. He and his wife, Mary, plan to spend time traveling, hiking, mountain biking, and playing tennis…mid-week!

After 35 years of public service, Hughes leaves STPUD with a legacy of sound financial stewardship, significant investment in aging infrastructure, and a strong commitment to providing reliable water and wastewater services to the South Lake Tahoe community.