There are 56 article(s) tagged Mark Billingsley:
The Sierra Club’s Scott Banbury raises questions about the governor's move to extend electronic meetings for local governments, while the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government says it creates a "convenient" loophole for councils and commissions to avoid public comment.
What was already a challenging budget year was complicated in county government by the pandemic's economic damage and a decision by the County Commission to reject the budget proposal by County Mayor Lee Harris. The commission rejected a proposed 8-cent property tax rate hike.
The plan to balance the county budget came apart when the commission put too much weight on the idea that federal reimbursements for county dollars spent on the pandemic freed up about $4.8 million. It didn't. Then a move to cut the sheriff's department budget brought two weeks of protest over the George Floyd incident into the discussion.
The county's $1.4 billion budget is a work in progress, but officials say they're close.
The commission calculated cuts and additions to the $1.4 billion budget, which must be approved by June 30.
Budget committee Chairman Eddie Jones and Vice Chairman Edmund Ford Jr. presented the proposal. Work on the budget resumes in a special committee meeting Monday before the full Shelby County Commission session.
Now that Mayor Lee Harris' budget has been rejected, County Commission must craft another one.
Many county commissioners said their constituents don't like the wheel tax, don't know how it's used and thought it was going away.
Shelby County Commission committee meetings Wednesday, April 1, will be accessible remotely. Here's how to follow along.
As COVID-19 impacts tax revenues and creates other demands for Shelby County government, funding MATA will probably have to wait.
Shelby County plans to invest more than $15 million total in purchasing and converting the facility into a juvenile detention center.
Changes to state law approved in subcommittee Wednesday will allow bodies like the Shelby County Commission and Memphis City Council to meet and take votes by conference calls.
Even with fourth coronavirus patient, Shelby County Health Department director said there is still no need for mass testing.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris remains in constant contact with staff and health department officials while on “a very important trip to a very important place.”
Shelby County commissioners want to send a message about following the sexual harassment policy, regardless of who is accused.
County Commissioners were told Wednesday that revenue shortfalls and funding requests have the upcoming fiscal 2021 budget projections out of balance.
Committee recommendations include an annual certification of residency for Shelby County employees.
Amending the county's residency requirements for public safety workers is intended to help with hiring and retention.
The controversial Quinn Ridge development near Collierville takes another stab at approval from the County Commission Monday.
If approved, an amended ordinance would let public safety workers live outside of Shelby County, but they would pay $2,500 in "residency compensation."
Shelby County officials toured the old Shelby Training Center as a possible site for new juvenile detention facility.
If the proposed ordinance passes, it would eliminate the residency requirement for public safety employees hired between April 1, 2020, until April 1, 2024.
The proposal could still pass on third reading.
Shelby County Commissioners voted down on first reading Monday an ordinance that would let voters decide if county workers must live in the county.
An ad hoc committee of the County Commission on residency for Shelby County workers is considering limited exceptions for sheriff's deputies and fire department personnel.
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