MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Mayor A C Wharton’s budget for next year may depend on how October’s election goes.
It will either be his last or the first of five more.
The mayor’s $656 million budget includes $48 million going towards the pensions, $15 million for street paving and an additional $7 million for public safety.
The improving economy is helping a little and Wharton said he was increasing spending without a tax increase.
“Our budget is a very conservative budget, we didn’t really allow that much for growth, but we are experiencing an upturn in our sales taxes, property sales taxes are up so we’re budgeting on the conservative side,” explained Wharton outside of City Hall, just moments after he presented his proposal to his fellow council members.
The mayor has also set aside $3 million for blight and $2 million for youth programs.
When presenting his budget, Mayor Wharton said the city is coming out of its financial downfall and into a new light.
“Weathered the storm; bruised but not broken,” he said.
“In an election year it’s more of a budget about politics than numbers,” explained WREG political commentator Otis Sanford.
Sanford said Wharton is trying to show that he’s listening to the people.
“He’s trying to send a message to the community that ‘I care about public safety, I’m trying to increase the pensions. I certainly want to pave the roads and best of all there won’t be a tax increase,'” explained Sanford.
Not only is it an election year but it comes at a time when the city is at an impasse with unions including the police and fire unions.
Two councilmen running for mayor, Jim Strickland and Harold Collins, are both on the fire impasse committee.
“I’m hoping that they put their mayoral race aside and listen to our issues,” said Thomas Malone, President of the Memphis Firefighter’s Association.
Over the next few weeks, the committees will go into negotiations with the unions to see if the mayor’s proposal allows for any wiggle room for wage increases for city employees.
“I’m sure the union is going to look into the budget with a fine tooth comb. The council is going to do the same thing, and they’re going to find some things to pick at,” said Sanford.
Over the next few weeks, the council budget committee will go over the mayor’s proposal.