Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has shattered another glass ceiling in Texas’ second-largest city. On January 22, 2025, she officially stepped into the role of Dallas City Manager, becoming the first Black woman to hold the position.
The decision by the Dallas City Council marks the culmination of a months-long national search led by the council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Administrative Affairs. Chaired by Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins, the committee narrowed down a pool of candidates to three finalists. Tolbert stood out during interviews and community engagement events, ultimately earning the council’s unanimous approval.
Tolbert is no stranger to Dallas’ top administrative seat. She has served as Interim City Manager since May 2024, stepping in during a pivotal time for the city. Upon her interim appointment, Tolbert launched an ambitious 100-day transition plan to streamline operations, address inefficiencies, and boost productivity.
Her first 100 days yielded significant results:
- A balanced budget: Tolbert delivered a biennial FY 2024-25 budget that received unanimous City Council approval.
- Faster permitting: She reduced median issuance times for new commercial construction permits by 31%.
- Strategic restructuring: Tolbert reconfigured the city’s organizational chart to foster collaboration across departments.
- Cost savings: By consolidating multiple departments, she saved the city $13 million.
- First responder support: She implemented recruitment and retention incentives to attract and retain top talent in public safety.
In her official position, Tolbert will oversee Dallas’ $5.2 billion budget and lead a workforce of more than 13,000 city employees.
“I want to thank the City Council for their confidence in me to lead this city as we evolve on the world stage, with a thriving and inclusive community that sets the standard for excellence,” Tolbert said. “I am certain that we can collectively achieve this through innovation, efficient government, and targeted economic growth. But we cannot do it alone. Each of our stakeholders makes Dallas extraordinary, and we are committed to continuing to foster trust by delivering on our promise of Service First, with the urgency of Now.”
Tolbert also expressed gratitude to her colleagues. “Finally, I want to thank our talented City of Dallas team. Their passion and dedication have inspired me during my tenure as Interim City Manager, and I am excited to build upon the momentum we have already achieved.”
Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson praised Tolbert’s leadership during her interim tenure, pointing to her ability to streamline operations and save taxpayers money.
“I am proud to support Kimberly Bizor Tolbert as Dallas’ new city manager,” Johnson said. “As Interim City Manager for the past 10 months, Tolbert has streamlined city operations, improved government efficiency, reduced taxpayer waste, and delivered a budget with the largest single-year property tax rate reduction in Dallas history.”
Johnson added that Tolbert’s leadership will be instrumental in addressing some of the city’s key priorities.
“With Tolbert now serving in a permanent role, Dallas is poised to take full advantage of the opportunities before us as we continue to reduce the tax rate, enhance government efficiency and transparency, and keep the people of Dallas safe,” he said. “Now, Dallas can take the next steps toward hiring permanent police and fire chiefs to strengthen our standing as the safest major city in America.”
Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins, who led the city manager selection process, also received praise from Johnson for his efforts in identifying a strong leader for the role.
As Tolbert takes on this historic position, her track record suggests she’s ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities that come with leading a dynamic and growing city.
