#240: Cut 2% Now — or 15% Later | City of Mesa, Fusion Learning Partners & Freeit Data Solutions “Even doing the same with less is really hard.” Chris Stewart, Scott Conn, and Mary Wynne on budget cuts, professional development, and finding more value in the tools you already own. Episode Summary 850 members. Seven states. Two and a half years. Scott Conn, Chief Information Officer, City of Mesa — built WRITA from a problem (like the best entrepreneurs!). In an Arizona CIO club, he asked why collaboration should stop at the CIO. Why couldn’t help desk staff, GIS specialists, engineers, and desktop teams learn from peers across the state? Everyone agreed. Then they voluntold Scott to go build it. Chris Stewart, former Chief Information Officer, City of Austin & Chief Revenue Officer at Freeit Data Solutions — sees the pressure from both sides. Budgets are flat or shrinking, technology costs are climbing, and “even just doing the same with less is really hard.” Mary Wynne, CEO, Fusion Learning Partners — is the person helping WRITA keep all of this moving. Through Fusion Learning Partners’ Catalyst Solutions Group, her team supports the day-to-day operations and conferences behind the organization. Fusion also leads the 55-year-old Public Technology Institute and the 45-year-old GOVIT Symposium—the nation’s longest-running IT conference for state and local government. I sat down with all three at WRITA’s inaugural Spring Conference at the Mesa Convention Center. The conversation kept returning to one leadership test: before you make another cut, buy another platform, or cut professional development, have you found the value already inside your tools, partnerships, and people? ps: don’t forget to join the 2026 WRITA Fall Summit in Salt Lake City, September 1st-3rd. Learn more here. Guests Scott Conn, Chief Information Officer, City of Mesa, Arizona; Founder, WRITA Mary Wynne CEO, Fusion Learning Partners (Public Technology Institute) Chris Stewart Chief Revenue Officer, Freeit Data Solutions (former CIO, City of Austin) Timestamps (05:45) Scott’s problem with “CIOs-only clubs”—and the idea that became WRITA (09:17) Four sponsors, one rule: bring an implementation—not a sales pitch (15:36) Flat budgets, higher quotes—and why doing the same with less is now hard (17:05) Tools first, people second: Mesa’s strategy for keeping services moving (18:00) Two sentences. Fifteen minutes. Why only two vendors in ten earn the full meeting (19:24) Before you buy another tool, are you using the one you already own? (26:23) The rumor mill starts before the decision does (27:00) Mesa’s budget glide path: 2% now instead of a drastic 15% later (35:00) Accountability overcorrected—and then trust caught up (37:23) “The best leaders are the best learners” (42:07) The budget line Mary says leaders should think twice before cutting Whenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways you can connect with TechTables: 1. 📬 The TechTables Newsletter Thanks for reading TechTables! Get early access to new episodes, insights, upcoming events, and more — straight to your inbox. Join now: https://www.techtables.com/ 2. 🤝 Are you a local government CIO who wants to become a better leader? Check out our high-trust, vendor-free peer group built for local government CIOs tackling real challenges, honest conversations, and an authentic desire to become a better leader — our next retreat is November 2026 in Austin, TX Learn more → https://techtables.com/communities-local-government 3. 🤝 The Better Together Virtual Series The narrative-driven series bringing together industry partners and public sector CXOs. Discover the compelling stories that unfold when we stop working in silos and start building together. »»» Email joe@techtables.com to learn more. Platinum Newsletter Sponsor: Info-Tech Research Group This newsletter is presented by Info-Tech Research Group, the fastest growing research & advisory firm that senior technology leaders in the public sector actually call when it matters. —> Click here to see all ITRG episodes Gold Newsletter Sponsor: SentinelOne - Learn how SentinelOne empowers this state to stay secure. Verizon Frontline - The advanced network that keeps first responders connected when it matters most. NinjaOne (new sponsor!) — Learn how NinjaOne Unifies IT and Gets A Super Upgrade with this public sector agency. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com
