Memphis Tax REVOLT

Memphis-Shelby Tax Revolt ACTION Center

2008-04-20T07:56:00.006-05:00

Memphis Tax Revolt Resource Center

ACT NOW before it is too late. Call and Fax the Mayors, Council, Commission, tell them politely but firmly, "Do Not Raise my property taxes." They work for YOU.

Stop the Tax Fax for City of Memphis -PDF (Print, Sign, and Fax)

Stop the Tax Fax for Shelby County-PDF (Print, Sign, and Fax)

Email all members of the Memphis City Council and Mayor Herenton

Email County Mayor Wharton and the County Commissioners

Call Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton's Office
and leave a message: 576-6007

Call County Mayor AC Wharton's Office
and leave a message: 545-4500

THE REASON THE POLITICIANS WANT TO RAISE YOUR TAXES

2008-04-17T20:01:00.000-05:00

April 17, 2008

If the City of Memphis and Shelby County are looking for reasons for our financial crisis, they need to start with our two school systems. Our County school system is pretty good and their cost per student is lower than the Memphis City School system. Of course Mayor Herneton wants to combine the two systems which would require the County School System to spend more per student to lower their achievement level to the City system as state law requires that when you combine two system, you must bring the lower cost system up to the higher cost system. Stupid yes, but we are talking politicians here, not rocket scientists. The City School System and Mayor Herenton continue to block a separate school district for the better performing county school system.

However the most egregious problem and error is the ADA (Average Daily Attendance) split law between the City and the County. The law states that when the County builds a school in the County, they must give the City of Memphis School System the cost of the new school multiplied by the ADA split. The law, however, has a provision that allows the county to build the school with taxes collected outside the City of Memphis to avoid this disastrous payment to the Memphis City Schools (MCS). One school (Arlington High School) was built by this provision in the law and county taxpayers are paying 4 cents per year in property taxes for this school over and above their normail county property tax. Since, then the County Commission has refused to build further schools using this method in the law. The results are shown below. $539 million dollars in extra cost plus another $50 million starting this year. No wonder Mayor Wharton is looking to tax you more.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET SCHOOL FUNDING
Funding bases on ADA (Average Daily Attendance)
FY City County Total
1999 $57,300,000.00 $27,150,000.00 $84,450,000.00
2000 $95,296,146.00 $48,838,828.00 $144,134,974.00
2001 $57,300,000.00 $31,800,000.00 $89,100,000.00
2002 $57,300,000.00 $27,300,000.00 $84,600,000.00
2003 $57,300,000.00 $18,800,000.00 $76,100,000.00
2004 $57,300,000.00 $51,975,000.00 $109,275,000.00
2005 $57,300,000.00 $20,000,000.00 $77,300,000.00
2006 $57,300,000.00 $20,000,000.00 $77,300,000.00
2007 $43,000,000.00 $17,000,000.00 $60,000,000.00
Totals $539,396,146.00 $262,863,828.00 $802,259,974.00

TOTAL PAID TO CITY OF MEMPHIS OVER AND ABOVE COST OF COUNTY SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION COSTS $539,395,935.00

Funding based on Joint Agreement of 50/50 split of $100 million
FY City County Total
2006 $0.00 $8,000,000.00 $8,000,000.00
2007 $0.00 $30,000,000.00 $30,000,000.00

Note: Final $12 million to County Schools paid in FY 2008. City School payment of $50 million to begin in FY2008

The reason for this financial crisis lies at the feet of the politicians and their refusal to make reasonable decisions that taxpayers have to make every day. It is time that taxpayers take back control of their government from the politicians by cutting off the tax faucet.

Interesting CA headline: NO "relief" for taxpayers

2008-04-17T12:42:00.000-05:00

The Commercial Appeal headline reads: Wharton asks legislators for relief in working out budget problems.

Who is getting relief? NOT Taxpayers!! Mayor Wharton is saying to taxpayers that he refuses to control the county budget so he is going to FORCE county taxpayers to cut their family budgets by raising their taxes. That is how HE spells relief.

17% Tax Hike?..."no way" are brave words but

2008-04-17T10:34:00.000-05:00

history tells differently about what will happen when the city council votes. Its time to call your city council member. HERE is the link with council contact info.

Link

As council members wade into the budget process, several high-profile projects set to receive city funding are likely to come into focus again.

For instance, the Riverfront Development Corp.'s controversial Beale Street Landing project -- which is scheduled to receive $7.3 million next fiscal year -- will likely come under close scrutiny. So could the $1 million earmarked for LeMoyne-Owen College.

Even travel budgets for city employees will be studied, said councilman Bill Morrison.

"The final numbers come from the council," he said, "and I think every council member is looking at everything."

Morrison said the council's review will include the $93.5 million the city has budgeted for Memphis City Schools.