Durham City Manager Names Bertha Johnson As Deputy City Manager

DURHAM, NC — Durham City Manager Wanda Page has named long-time Budget and Management Services Director Bertha T. Johnson to be the next Deputy City Manager over the City’s operations departments, effective immediately.

Johnson has served for the past five months as the Interim Deputy City Manager, most recently overseeing the City’s operations departments, which primarily provide core services to residents, including Water Management, Solid Waste Management, General Services, Public Works, Fleet Management, Finance, Technology Solutions, and Durham One Call. Previously, she oversaw the administrative and support departments, including Audit, Finance, Budget and Management Services, Human Resources, and Equity and Inclusion.

“During her 13 years as our Budget and Management Services Director, Bertha has demonstrated outstanding and innovative leadership skills that have enabled the organization to grow and develop collaborative community partnerships to address community needs,” said City Manager Page. “As Interim Deputy City Manager, she has shown a willingness to engage in those core services that residents consider vital to their quality of life, including solid waste collection, maintenance of City streets, and access to good and safe drinking water.”

As Budget and Management Services Director, Johnson served on the city manager’s executive leadership team and coordinated and oversaw the development, implementation, and monitoring of the City’s annual operating budget and capital improvement plan. She also led the City’s Participatory Budgeting program, the development of the City’s annual strategic plan, and was instrumental in the City being awarded several grants, including a national grant that led to the creation of the City’s Innovation Team, which is focused on addressing social issues.

“I am so excited to take on this new role as deputy city manager and to now lead the Operations Portfolio, consisting of over 1,000 employees providing services to Durham residents and businesses,” said Johnson. “I’m grateful to City Manager Wanda Page for recognizing my contributions to the organization and community over the past 15 years, and for her believing in me that I was ready to take on this new role in serving our community.”

Prior to joining the City in 2005, Johnson served as finance director for the City of Roxboro, N.C., and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. Johnson is a 1986 graduate of Elon University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. Johnson also has a Master’s degree in Public Administration from North Carolina Central University.