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By City Manager Mary K. Suhm

I have worked for this City for more than 30 years, side by side with many of you.  And whether you have worked here for decades or are just starting your career, I know you love this City just as much as I do and share my passion to serve the residents of Dallas.

Together, we’ve done a great job building a better city.

Your efforts over the past four years have put the City of Dallas on the customer service map. Thanks to you, we are closer to our organization’s goal of becoming the best customer-focused, service-driven city government in the nation. And that’s why we
must continue our mission despite our current challenges.

As a result of the global economic recession, the City of Dallas experienced significant declines in general tax revenues.  We cannot afford to offer the levels of services and benefits to residents and staff that have been in place in previous years.  As a result, our organization is undergoing many changes, including a reduction in workforce, department consolidations and reductions or cuts in services.

Recommending employee layoffs and furloughs is painful for me, but it is necessary in this economic climate.  However, the City does have a number of vacant positions – critical to operations – as well as positions funded by grants and stimulus funds that will be filled. Therefore, we are doing everything we can to help those employees affected by the reduction in force to find other employment with the City and/or provide out-placement training needed to seek other opportunities.

Our City’s strength and resiliency has been tested before. And as we’ve done in the past, we will meet the challenges by working more creatively and prudently to provide the best possible services to Dallas residents.

Whatever your individual situation, remember that we are bigger and better than any single budget.  Each one of you is important and appreciated and I know you’ve worked hard over the past four years to provide our customers with quality service. And as the City begins a difficult year, your skills are needed to reassure residents that the City of Dallas is doing everything in its power to provide the services they need.

Thank you for your commitment and dedication to the City of Dallas. Together, we will weather the difficult times ahead and emerge stronger and better than before.

Posted with permission from City Hall Highlights