Dixon has been with the Tax Collector’s Office for 16 years. He was first appointed Tax Collector by the Board of County Commissioners in 2001 and has been re-appointed three times since.

In making the announcement, the association citedseveral of Dixon’s major accomplishments since becoming the County’s Tax Collector.

• He has championed the development and implementation of an online filing and payment system for the Business Tax Collection Unit. 
• Mecklenburg County has met and exceeded its collection goals during the past few years, despite the economic downturn. 
• He restructured the Enforced Collection Unit to provide more deputy collectors in the field. 
• He sent over 50,000 debts to the clearinghouse for collection last year using the Debt Setoff program.
• Maintains a 98.08% collection rate (combined real estate/personal property and motor vehicle collections).

Dixon unveiled a new online payment system for business taxpayers in 2011. Until recently, payments for privilege/business licenses, beer and wine licenses, taxi cab licenses, prepared food and beverage taxes, room occupancy taxes, vehicle rental taxes, heavy equipment taxes, and yard sale licenses were only payable by mail or in person.

“Neal has followed the County’s ‘high tech, high touch’ approach perfectly,” says County Manager Harry L. Jones, Sr. “He provides customers with technology tools when they want them and a more personal touch when they need it.”

Dixon’s office receives nearly 90,000 phone calls from residents each year with questions about their taxes and has worked diligently to improve work flow in the office and improve the customer’s experience.
 
The award was announced at the 2011 North Carolina Tax Collectors Association conference in Asheville.