MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris has proposed a $1.6 billion budget for the county, and says it does not include a property tax increase.
Mayor Harris presented his budget Wednesday, May 1, 2024. According to the mayor, the budget includes money for MATA, school infrastructure, and a 6% raise for all county employees and law enforcement, making the minimum pay for county workers $18 per hour.
Here are some of the highlights, according to the mayor’s office:
- Over $1 million investment in public transit/MATA.
- $24 million dedicated to healthcare access for those without adequate insurance.
- $427 million investment in school operations, maintaining funding levels from the previous fiscal year.
- Establishment of Shelby County’s first Office of Grants and Compliance, with a $440k investment.
- $250k grant to Pure Academy to develop a new boarding school in Memphis’ urban core.
- Public safety programs will receive full-year funding increases, with $2.3 million for Juvenile Court, $2.2 million to the Public Defender, and $2.9 million to the District Attorney.
“This is our toughest budget year,” said Mayor Harris in a news release. “Shelby County has faced high inflation and loss of stimulus funds. When faced with those challenges we identified cost-saving measures to redirect resources towards our community’s needs. Our investments in lifting the wages of working people, education, public transit, and healthcare, including mental healthcare, will be transformative.”
“Because raising taxes was not an option, we meticulously scrutinized every aspect of the budget to find savings,” said Budget Director Michael Thompson. “We look forward to collaborating with the Commission to refine the proposal and shape its final form.”