MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis City Council members voted to spend more of your tax dollars so they can have catered lunches and travel more.
Budget committee members more than doubled their lunch fund and quadrupled their travel budget. In a time when police officers and firefighters getting raises seems to be a struggle, some are questioning if this is in the best interest for the city.
On Tuesday the budget committee voted to increase their lunch budget to $8,000 on days they meet. Last year the council delegated $3,500 for lunch.
The council members who voted for the increase were Berlin Boyd, Janis Fullilove, Martavius Jones, Joe Brown, Jamita Swearengen and Edmund Ford Junior.
The council members who voted against were Kemp Conrad, Worth Morgan, Frank Colvett and Philip Spinosa Jr.
“We’re there early morning to sometimes late, late at night,” said longtime councilwoman Janis Fullilove.
She said there other issues critics need to worry about.
“You talk about $7-8,000 a year?! Get real! OK, there are other issues that are much more important than someone eating.”
Councilman Worth Morgan said it’s important to be faithful in the small and big issues and said catered lunch is convenient but not needed.
“Firefighters do their 24-hour shift. They bring their own food. They supply that themselves. I don’t think that’s completely unreasonable for us to sprint out to Lenny’s real quick,” he explained.
Taxpayers had mixed emotions.
“It could be a good thing, long hours involved it would be OK,” said one woman.
“That’s takin’ away from the people,” said a concerned Memphian.
Another increase is travel — $65,000, up from 15 last year. All 13 members will be granted $5,000 each to go to other cities and study their policies.
Councilman Martavius Jones, who formerly served on the school board, proposed the increase. He said it helped the board bring fresh, new ideas to the city, and all $5,000 does not have to be used.
“There’s some practices that are taking place in other cities. If we stay confined to Memphis we may never know that are working to make Memphis better,” he explained.
An argument several council members made was the Shelby County Board of Commissioners has a much larger food and travel budget than they do.
While a committee might’ve voted for the increased, they’re not set in stone just yet. The full council has until June 1 to approve a budget for next year.