D
allas has appointed Kimberly Bizor Tolbert as its new city manager, a move that comes after she made significant strides in areas affecting real estate and development. Tolbert's efforts led to the creation of a unified Planning and Development Department, which helped close half of the city's 9,800 inactive permits by October. This was a major improvement from the previous year, when it took 300 days to obtain a commercial construction permit.

    Tolbert also played a key role in securing the largest property tax rate cut in Dallas' modern history, reducing the rate to 70.47 cents per $100 valuation for fiscal year 2024-2025. This translates to approximately $62 in annual savings on a $200,000 home. Tolbert's experience and leadership skills were evident during her tenure as deputy city manager since 2017 and interim city manager last year.

    A Dallas native with a master's degree in public administration from the University of North Texas, Tolbert has worked for the city in various roles since the 1990s. Her salary was set at $450,000 per year, making her the third-highest-paid city manager in Texas. The city council approved her appointment in a 9-2 vote, with Mayor Eric Johnson and several other members voting in her favor.

    Tolbert's appointment marks a significant milestone as she becomes the first Black woman to serve as Dallas' chief executive. Her leadership has been praised by local business leaders, including Randall Bryant of the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, who credited Tolbert with bringing about positive change in the city.