CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AXIOS) – Mecklenburg County is under new leadership for the first time in over a decade.
Mike Bryant officially took the helm on Monday, June 30, succeeding longtime manager Dena Diorio.
Why it matters: The county manager oversees all the agencies and departments that serve you and your more than 1.2 million neighbors.
- One of Bryant’s biggest tasks each year is recommending a $2.5 billion budget, approved by commissioners, that is packed with ripple-making decisions for the area’s schools, parks, public health services and other needs.
What he’s saying: This is Bryant’s “dream job.”
- “I’m a public service junkie,” he said. “I just firmly believe that there is no more notable field than public service.”
Context: He has been with Mecklenburg County for over 22 years, starting in 2003, in the budget department, a role traditionally regarded as the pathway to becoming a manager in local government.
- Bryant moved up to director of the Office of Management and Budget in 2014 and then deputy county manager in 2020.
The big picture: Mecklenburg County already has a set list of priorities — health equity and wellness, education, services for seniors, workforce development, environmental stewardship, economic development and reducing racial disparities.
- Bryant says he’ll step in to continue focusing on programming and investments for all seven.
Yes, but: His tenure begins after a tough budget cycle.
- This year, the county budget included a 0.96-cent tax rate increase — an additional $36 a year for the median homeowner. The county had to implement a deferred half-cent tax rate increase from the prior year while addressing a revenue slowdown.
What he’s doing: Bryant says he wants to recommit Mecklenburg County to performance management, a framework for assessing the return on its investments.
- He’s considering implementing a scorecard to track where money is going and the results. The card would better inform decisions, he says, related to adjusting the tax rate, launching new programs or continuing funding of existing programs.
What he’s watching: Uncertainty at the federal and state level. As the federal government works to reduce the national deficit, Bryant says cuts may impact services like Medicaid.
- “If they do that, and the state decides to push it down to counties as well, we’re not in a position to supplant the large dollar amount associated with some of these decisions,” he says. “You can’t tax your way out of it.”
- Mecklenburg County receives more than $170 million in federal revenue.
Here’s how he responded to other topics…