A top financial official criticized for his handling of the Oakland Unified School District’s budget is resigning.

Senior business officer Vernon Hal leaves amid a deep deficit that led to $9 million in abrupt midyear cuts.

In a statement, OUSD Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell praised Hal, who himself graduated from an Oakland high school, for his many years of service.

"He worked for the District twice, starting the second time in 2008. In the years since, he helped steer the District back into local control, he helped us regain our bond rating and he helped refinance our bonds, saving Oakland taxpayers millions of dollars. For all that and much more, we are grateful," Johnson-Trammell wrote.

Oakland Board of Education member Jody London says Hal's was a big job and will leave a sizable vacancy.