There are 64 article(s) tagged Mark Billingsley:
The latest hiccup is a higher-than-expected contract for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center to run the county’s forensic center for the region, with the county dipping into its reserves for the difference.
The contract stirred the political embers of a recent budget season in county government as well as some spirited debate among commissioners about mask requirements.
Shelby County Commissioners want to try a swap out of federal CARES Act funding similar to one city council members did a week ago. But tensions left over from a rough county budget season that ended in June are hanging around.
Authorities are investigating after, police say, vandals targeted the homes of Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner and County Commissioners Mark Billingsley and Amber Mills Tuesday, July 28.
It's been a month since a county government budget was approved for the fiscal year that began July 1. But until that detailed budget is printed in black and white, there is still some wrangling underway, some distrust and the hiring freeze the county imposed may be melting.
Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter's county health board proposal is drawing some resistance from suburban leaders who want to know more about its powers. The last county health board was abolished in 1909 and was no stranger to controversy.
On The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast, the County Commission chairman says the differences between the two don't appear to extend to the rest of the commission. Mark Billingsley also said he hopes to move to lift the county hiring budget freeze once there is a reconciliation of the budget approved by the commission last month after rejecting Mayor Lee Harris's original proposal.
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.