Dive Brief:
- Elizabeth Reich, the CFO of the city of Dallas, officially tendered her resignation to City Manager T.C. Broadnax Monday, according to a memo from Broadnax that was emailed to elected and administrative leaders and provided to CFO Dive. Reich, who is departing after a five year tenure, cited plans to move forward to an undisclosed job opportunity in her resignation letter, and will officially depart from the role on June 30.
- Jack Ireland, currently serving as director for the city’s office of budget and management services, will move into the CFO position, according to the memo. Ireland’s responsibilities as director include overseeing the city’s operating budget as well as its capital budget.
- Reich’s departure comes as Dallas city officials are set to discuss Broadnax’s job performance in a closed door session Wednesday. The city is also set to hear plans for its annual budget on the same day, with Broadnax planning to issue his recommended budget August 9, according to a Monday report by the Dallas Morning News.
Dive Insight:
Serving as the city’s CFO since December 2016, Reich will be leaving the city financially stronger than before her tenure, she noted in her resignation letter, stating she decided to leave “to seek out a new challenge that would allow me to continue serving the people of Dallas while continuing to grow professionally.”
Reich is a government veteran with seven years of experience in the U.S. Social Security Administration, previously serving a nine-month tenure ending in August 2016 as the SSA’s senior executive. She also served as its CFO and deputy commissioner for budget, finance, quality and management from between May and November 2015, according to LinkedIn.
Ireland, who will transition into the CFO role beginning July 1, served as director for budget and management services for 12 years, according to the memo sent out Monday. He has 36 years of experience in public service and will be replaced by Janette Weedon, the city’s 311 director of customer service. All appointments will be effective July 1.
As CFO for Dallas, Reich was responsible for the city’s budget as well as overseeing its comptroller, data analytics and procurement, as well as the city’s information and technology offices. She helped to secure $800 million in COVID-19 relief funding from the federal government for the city. Voters also passed the city’s largest bond program to date of $1.05 billion in 2017 during her tenure.. Dallas reserves have also increased during Reich’s tenure, she wrote, growing from $134 million or 42 days in operating expenses in 2016 to $287 million or 71.5 days in operating expenses per latest reports.
City to hear budget among potential leadership changes
The Dallas city council is set to hear a briefing regarding its 2023 budget Wednesday. Revenue is currently estimated at $1.59 billion, according to a city document released ahead of the meeting. The document highlights a higher cost of living than expected, fuel increases and other effects of inflation as top general fund expense drivers for the year.
Council members will also evaluate city manager Broadnax’s performance in a closed-door meeting the same day, with Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, who requested the session in a Friday memo, noting in a statement to CBS News published Monday that “several council members” had asked to put such a discussion on the Wednesday agenda.
Numerous council members as well as several organizations including the Dallas Fire Fighters Association (DFA) have called for for Broadnax’s departure, according to a Tuesday Dallas Morning News report, with DFA President Jim McDade pointing to issues with pay and equipment such as fire trucks as reasons behind their endorsement of new leadership.
Reich did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
