The Early Word: Property tax is going up, and Fino’s, Buckley’s are down
Happy NBA Draft day to all who celebrate! Or, well, happy day one of the draft. For the first time, the NBA Draft is a two-day affair, bringing it more in line with other pro sports drafts, which typically span multiple days.
Also today, Wednesday, June 26, Downtown’s Center City Development Corp. will consider a grant for I Am Rare, a new clothing boutique planned for the South Main Arts District.
Your property tax is going up — but not by 75 cents. The Memphis City Council approved a compromised 49-cent property-tax hike on Tuesday, along with the city’s fiscal year budget. Memphis Mayor Paul Young had originally proposed a 75-cent hike, but the new package deal whittled down the tax hike, increased the solid-waste fee and doubled the auto-registration fee. That balances the city budget, provides a 5% raise for city workers and puts $14 million a year into the city’s reserve fund. The City Council was also hit Tuesday with a $15 million budget surprise from city reserves to cover police overtime, and that was ultimately approved. And while most city employees are getting a pay bump, the council cut Memphis Police Interim Chief C.J. Davis’ salary by about $35,000.
Chef Kelly English quietly closed Fino’s from the Hill in Germantown this month, citing the location’s small kitchen and limited street visibility. But no worries for Fino’s fans: The Midtown location is still open, and English has plans to make improvements to its menu. In other news of closures, Buckley’s Grill in East Memphis has closed.
Plus, the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board cuts 1,100-plus jobs, FedEx bounces back and Collierville Town Square’s may not be owned by Collierville.
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Bianca Phillips
Bianca Phillips is a Northeast Arkansas native and longtime Memphian who’s worked in local journalism and PR for more than 20 years. In her days as a reporter, she covered everything from local government and crime to LGBTQ issues and the arts. She’s the author of “Cookin Crunk: Eatin’ Vegan in the Dirty South,” a cookbook of vegan Southern recipes.
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