FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW FOREST HILLS, Tennessee (October 9, 1997) -- The proposal by Willie Herenton, mayor of Memphis, to shift some services currently paid for out of city tax revenues to Shelby County property owners is a good starting point for discussions, but unacceptable in current form, according to Chris Lawrence, maintainer of the New Forest Hills Information Center on the Internet.
"Overall, I'd have to say that I'm happy that Herenton has decided to recognize reality and is starting to adjust to it," said Lawrence. "I think a lot of people have some strong criticisms of the plan, but it is at least a good starting point for negotiations."
Herenton's proposal, which he calls the "Formula For Fairness," would shift responsibility for funding some areas of government from city tax rolls to all county residents. His plan anticipates a $1.47 cut in city tax rates, coupled with an 85-cent increase in county tax rates. The net effect would cut taxes for Memphis property owners, but raise taxes for residents in all other Shelby County communities.
Lawrence is not certain that all of the areas that Herenton has targeted are county-wide responsibilities. "The Memphis Area Transit Authority barely serves suburban Shelby County; some communities receive no MATA service," he stated. "Expecting county residents to foot the bill for public transportation lines that don't serve them is hardly fair."
Herenton's plan also sticks suburban residents with the bill for two school systems. Lawrence said, "Why on earth does Shelby County need two school systems? Herenton's plan would continue the most wasteful duplication of efforts in Shelby County -- hardly a bold reform." According to the Commercial Appeal, the school funding plan is flawed, and would require an additional 24 cents of property tax for county schools to meet state requirements. "No doubt Herenton's constitutents will wonder why this sleight-of-hand makes them pay even more of their hard-earned money to a school system their children can't attend. Herenton's ducking of consolidation is making a mockery of fiscal sanity."
The formula is not without its good points, according to Lawrence. "Herenton has sensibly included a moratorium on Memphis annexations, and consolidated funding for libraries and public health," he said. "These two spending areas are clearly county-wide responsibilities. All county residents benefit from the Memphis/Shelby County Public Library and the Health Department, and it is reasonable that everyone should pay for them."
Lawrence has prepared a response to Herenton's formula, which is available for anyone to inspect, free of charge, on the Internet (at http://www.clark.net/pub/lawrencc/nfh/formula.html), and may be freely copied and published in unmodified form.
Lawrence looks forward to seeing the final result of the wrangling, and hopes that it will be put to a referendum. "Fundamentally changing the tax structure of Memphis and Shelby County is something that everyone should decide, not a clique of politicos downtown. If a sensible formula can be worked out, Shelby County residents will support it."
The New Forest Hills Information Center was established in July 1997, by Chris Lawrence. Its goal is to provide the citizens of Shelby County with a timely and accurate source of information about the planned incorporation of the city of New Forest Hills. Chris can be reached at the Internet mail address <lawrencc@clark.net>; he can also be contacted at:
P.O. Box 38055 Germantown, Tennessee 38183-0055
The New Forest Hills Information Center is available on the Internet at http://www.clark.net/pub/lawrencc/nfh/index.html.
New Forest Hills is a community of approximately 4,000 residents in southeastern Shelby County, Tennessee. It is the home of the Tournament Players Club at Southwind, one of America's finest golf courses, and will be the home of Federal Express Corporation's world headquarters, starting in 2003. The community is currently seeking a referendum on incorporation as a city.