Wheel-tax increase faces first vote by Shelby County Commission
The doubling of the $50 annual wheel tax is integral to County Mayor Lee Harris’ plan to expand the county’s capital budget from $75 million annually to $150 million.
The doubling of the $50 annual wheel tax is integral to County Mayor Lee Harris’ plan to expand the county’s capital budget from $75 million annually to $150 million.
The delay in the vote came after it became apparent the nine-vote two-thirds majority wasn’t there in the first of two votes. County Commission calls on judges to enact new release restrictions earlyRelated story:
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But opponents of nuclear energy say harm to the environment and public health — including from mining and nuclear waste — outweigh the benefits of it being a low-carbon energy source.
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Area school superintendents are closely watching Mayor Lee Harris’ wheel tax proposal, if approved the could see an increase in funding for capital needs.
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A top aide to Shelby County Property Assessor Melvin Burgess says opposition to a two-year reappraisal cycle among the county’s seven mayors two years ago has changed as local governments take a revenue hit on sales ratio calculations.
This marks the first time since 2009 that a city in Tennessee was granted one of these funds.
Dr. Reginald Coopwood said the hospital’s aging infrastructure does not match the quality of care it provides.
The $50 wheel tax hike on the County Commission agenda is key to Mayor Lee Harris’ plan to finance $350 million toward rebuilding the Regional One Health campus and building two new high schools.
Halbert has talked of opening a new clerk’s office on Riverdale Road since late last year. The “soft opening” means the office won’t be fully staffed.
The proposed wheel-tax hike, to fund the rebuilding of Regional One Health’s campus and new Frayser and Cordova high schools, fell two votes short of the nine votes needed. It was then one vote short in a late attempt to keep the funding option alive.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris talks about the defeat of his wheel-tax proposal on The Daily Memphian’s “On The Record” podcast and has harsh words for Shelby County Commissioners.
Here’s a roundup of some other items on Monday’s Shelby County Commission agenda, which was overshadowed by budget deliberations and votes on the wheel-tax hike.