MEMPHIS, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) – I’ve got to tellyou, Eads is a long way from Downtown Memphis. A LONG way. 32 miles fromdowntown.
It was known asthe location of one of the worst school bus wrecks in Tennessee history in 1941,when a train hit the bus at a crossing. Seven were killed.
Other than that, thisremains the country, even though it has a city name to it.
It won’t muchlonger; another year or so.
According toMemphis Chief Operating Officer Doug McGowen, “The areas we are talkingabout de-annexing, there’s probably 10,000 people in those areas. The firstwill be in Eads and River Bottoms. That’s about 700 individuals. 750rather.”
A total of 10,000people will end up being de-annexed from the city and put back into ShelbyCounty. The city will no longer get taxes from them, and no longer providepolice or fire or sanitation services. Shelby County will handle lawenforcement and other items.
County Mayor LeeHarris, who pushed hard not to raise taxes this year, says “Thepublic should be aware, next year we will face cost pressures, including thingslike de-annexation, about how to make a sustainable investment in publictransit, and the usual parade of requests will emerge.”
McGowen says thisplan should not result in a Shelby County tax increase.
“Our numberone priority when we undertook this,” he says, “… was to nottrigger a tax increase at the County. When we finished with all the transactionswe were discussing, we all agreed the actions we were suggesting would nottrigger a tax increase in the county.”
If all goes asplanned, the de-annexation plan of a portion of Eads will be next year, whilede-annexation for Rocky Point, South Cordova, and the Southwind area will takeplace in 2021.
