We were asked about Councilman Kemp Conrad’s budget proposal, so we’re posting his email from yesterday which includes the link to his proposal:
Dear fellow Memphian:
Due to the lack of the political will over the last ten years for reform, the decision to cut school funding and spend an additional $40mm on city government in 2008 (I was not on the council then), and lack of will by a majority of the council the last two budget cycles to seriously restrain spending, we find ourselves with a structural and recurring $60mm deficit.
This is approximately 10% of the cost of city government and the budget on the table now balances the budget with $60MM of one time money with no plan for next year. In addition, we have almost $1.5BB in unfunded liabilities for retiree pension and healthcare costs.
During his budget presentation, Mayor Wharton asked us for our ideas.
Attached are mine, which I presented to the Council yesterday and I am happy to report it was warmly received. It focuses on spending and structural reform and it is a durable plan that will allow us to grow and invest in the future.
As the facts suggest, we have a spending problem, not a revenue problem thus restructuring is where we should spend our time and effort.
The presentation is a bit long, but it is important to understand the detail and context. A link to the video of the presentation can be viewed here:
http://memphistn.gov/pdf_forms/RKC_Reform_Plan_FINAL_060111.pdf
If you agree with me, please call or email my colleagues on the Council as well as Mayor Wharton’s office and tell them we need bold leadership and a durable plan – not one more year of kick the can.
City Councilman Kemp Conrad Page
