The $7 million expansion of the youth farm includes a new programming center for girls ages 5 to 18.

Our scorecard of critical Shelby County Commission votes tracks the set of votes this week that led to the approval of a one-cent increase in the recertified county property tax rate. The votes were more complex than usual with some parliamentary drama that almost brings down the curtain on another county budget season.

Republican county commissioners who voted two weeks ago in favor of a resolution urging Gov. Bill Lee to veto a ban on teaching critical race theory took back their yes votes Monday. The resolution still passed.

The tax hike requires one more vote by the commission after notice is given to the public and the Board of Equalization with a chance for public comment. The commission also approved $1.3 million in recurring funding for the Memphis Area Transit Authority.

Meanwhile, a City Council member who is term limited said he may be on the 2022 ballot for Shelby County Commission and an incumbent commissioner says he will probably seek another term.

The Monday, June 7, session of the County Commission could mark the end of the 2021 budget season with a series of final votes on a $1.4 billion consolidated budget and a county property tax rate considered stable if it drops from the current $4.05 to $3.45. 

Germantown property owners whose houses were damaged by a 2019 flood say the Shelby County Assessor promised to meet with them to discuss how their homes’ values increased despite the destruction. But Melvin Burgess’ representatives say no such gathering will occur.

Commissioners also got a look a three scenarios for a property tax hike from County Mayor Lee Harris’ administration although Harris has said he is not proposing such a tax hike. 

As the pandemic hobbles on, clients have filed a record number of orders of protection for situations that were “more violent than ever.”

Tennessee is one of the eight lowest performing states for vaccinations; Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris says incentives are necessary.

Shelby County commissioners voted 11-0 with two commissioners not voting in approving a resolution similar to one approved by the Memphis City Council last week.

The commission approved Monday a basic property tax rate of $3.45 that generates the same amount of revenue as the current tax rate, taking into account increases in property values. But the rate must be rounded down by 0.001 cent, which comes to almost a quarter of a million dollars in revenue left on the table.

The Shelby County Commission meeting Monday, May 24, is a critical juncture in approving a property tax rate for the new fiscal year that begins July 1. But the county budget is expected to be voted on at the first meeting in June.

A coalition of a dozen nonprofit and community organizations are calling for the city and county property tax rates to stay at their current rates to create more funding for public education, public transportation, affordable housing and similar priorities.

Vaccination rates in Shelby’s ZIP codes range from 21% to 62%.

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen voted for the bipartisan panel while U.S. Rep. David Kustoff voted against the investigation. The measure passed the House with 35 Republicans voting with the Democratic majority, none of them from Tennessee.

A path is emerging to a low-key budget passage by the County Commission next month. But commissioners are considering a big capital ask by SCS.

One of two measures examined on the County Commission Scorecard didn’t get any yes votes but advanced because of commission rules. The other is part of the Byhalia Connection Pipeline controversy. Each proposal is a political work in progress so far.

Amy Weirich’s new unit targeting police brutality is off to a fast start, charging two officers so far, yet faces challenges ahead.

A former MPD patrolman escapes prosecution for the liberal use of his Taser, yet a new District Attorney unit aims to hold brutal cops accountable.

A Tennessee Department of Health report on Shelby County vaccine distribution problems recommends more training and establishing a clear chain of command but concluded no one needs to get revaccinated. 

Shortly after the CDC announced vaccinated Americans could ditch the masks in most situations, Shelby County government said Health Directive No. 21, set to go into effect Saturday, may be in for a rewrite.

Shelby County children as young as 12 were starting to be vaccinated against COVID-19 on Thursday, May 13.

Local health officer Dr. Bruce Randolph has said that the new rules will allow people to vote with their feet.