[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6207028,"mediaKeyId","3759748-c470c108dec5554f148bb2493adc3322","parentId",3759748,"title","Memphis budget committee backs flat 3% raise for city employees, ties potential XAI property tax to reserves","audioSeconds",1116,"startMs",931000,"endMs",2047000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3759748-c470c108dec5554f148bb2493adc3322&start=931&end=2047","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3759748-c470c108dec5554f148bb2493adc3322/thumbnail_931000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6207028/Memphis-City/Shelby-County/Tennessee/Memphis-budget-committee-backs-flat-3-raise-for-city-employees-ties-potential-XAI-property-tax-to-reserves","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207028-f87b9d6f5c783567ec631ef9992c6aef/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166001&Signature=PKZQ5gX~kIUMSW2AN4m7Vd~MIZD8A2XF-XU7-q6sOeX~P8sepAPlTyWRb3RxIC2W9a8uU~Xk6ZD2pmYO8o5r06El6QG3siAnmFdcClDMxzdxyhHp3EsMPpjk8yAzVwzpfpg-3kvQYBxmLvWzt67337L3YAcwP8rjP1-9~zODABpObOQZfNaZggm4F5msrIfsDOcMmYc2EQTckl1dc4ZR3nx~oXcayBLfEyTMyh5ENGz4uW2~LPbkNP3D2NFQhboY0sJta-BX1szmnAblau3Z5ABuRu8mzLGn8z9n5BOSGYkWfQ8UCLVHFMJzdLqUEsnYR4KY3nZtvXRIxc9BK52txA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Memphis City, TN","date","2025-06-10T08:04:42Z","article","Memphis — The Memphis City Council budget committee on June 9 voted to recommend a resolution that would amend the fiscal year 2026 operating budget to provide a flat 3% pay increase for all full‑time city employees and to reserve projected property tax revenue from the XAI project in the general fund unassigned fund balance.

Councilwoman Walker introduced the resolution and framed it as a compromise between honoring city employees and protecting essential services. “This resolution reasonably amends the FY26 budget by implementing a flat 3% raise for all full time city employees, both represented and nonrepresented,” she said. The resolution caps the adjustment at $17,500,000 and directs the administration to provide quarterly reports showing how the increase is implemented across divisions.

The resolution, moved by Councilman Ford Senior and seconded by Vice Chair JSW, reduces the mayor’s proposed contribution to the City of Memphis fund balance by $500,000 and allocates $7,400,000 as a revised contribution to the fund balance. It also states the council’s intent that up to $5,500,000 in projected property tax revenues associated with XAI (referred to in the resolution as XAI corporation doing business as XAI) be designated to the general fund unassigned fund balance after the administration reports the final projected revenues.

Why this matters: The committee’s action changes the mayor’s proposed flat budget by creating an across‑the‑board raise for municipal employees while avoiding adoption of larger impasse recommendations the council said would require roughly $39.1 million in additional spending. Council members repeatedly emphasized balancing fiscal prudence with workforce retention concerns; Walker said tying recurring operations to uncertain future revenue would be “financially irresponsible.”

Supporting details and direction: The resolution includes three operative items: 1) reallocating up to $17,500,000 to support the 3% raise, 2) reducing the mayor’s proposed contribution to the fund balance by $500,000, and 3) allocating $7,400,000 as the revised contribution to the fund balance. The administration is directed to provide quarterly implementation reports detailing allocation of the 3% increase across all divisions and, following final cost determination, to report projected property tax revenues expected from the XAI project.

Amendments and related actions: During debate, Councilwoman White proposed two friendly amendments that were accepted by the sponsor: reallocating $400,000 from the Family Safety Center line (appearing in the transcript as a division of grants and subsidies) to LeMoyne‑Owen College as a grant; and adding language requiring the administration to report monthly at committee meetings on revenue collections and expenditures from the finance division. Those accepted amendments were incorporated into the committee recommendation.

Procedure and next steps: The committee recorded the item as a favorable recommendation to be incorporated into the fiscal year 2026 operating budget ordinance upon passage of the resolution. Committee members were clear that the recommendation will be finalized when the full council considers the budget ordinance; the budget ordinance requires seven affirmative votes to pass, and any council member may offer amendments on the floor at that time. The committee chair said the resolution and accompanying language will be refined and published before the next meetings.

Quotes: “The money isn't there. We respect and value our workforce, but we also have a duty to our residents,” Councilwoman Walker said during her remarks. She also said the quarterly reports are intended “to ensure equitable implementation.”

Context and limits: The resolution does not itself change tax rates or formally appropriate projected XAI proceeds into recurring operations; it directs that projected XAI property tax revenues be shown to the council and held in the general fund unassigned fund balance. The amount cited in the resolution as associated with XAI—up to $5,500,000—was described in the meeting as the unaccounted portion of XAI proceeds and the administration said it would clarify that figure in the final language.

Ending: The committee approved the recommendation by voice vote; committee leaders said they will finalize wording and supporting materials for the full council’s consideration at upcoming meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Budget Wrap-up - June 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Memphis — The Memphis City Council budget committee on June 9 voted to recommend a resolution that would amend the fiscal year 2026 operating budget to provide a flat 3% pay increase for all full‑time city employees and to reserve projected property tax revenue from the XAI project in the general fund unassigned fund balance.","taxTitle","Memphis City, Shelby County, Tennessee","taxId",3648,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6207019,"Budget committee redirects $50,000 to senior meal program, shifts funding to Family Safety Center line",171,1601000,1772000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3759748-c470c108dec5554f148bb2493adc3322&start=1601&end=1772","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3759748-c470c108dec5554f148bb2493adc3322/thumbnail_1601000.jpg","/articles/6207019/Memphis-City/Shelby-County/Tennessee/Budget-committee-redirects-50000-to-senior-meal-program-shifts-funding-to-Family-Safety-Center-line","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207019-aae4afa69de6b4eee90e1f4acafce6d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166001&Signature=PHJWPhHRpKWaWbb4ipEOnFcGqdX-5tvoIo9L8FkOLgf4dKbZpwFMvNRpT~CjZUirccoBz51oqBQqfN9WsNX3LfmLUwVvkOzXebI4vQe4qY~eXqEB4H5s8JFDjLUNyxFGEVB-iaoqVz47jWEkJr6oIbULyHw~ao2oDLQ0YG3uv-y-iQIhXPtT9AZiV5ia~fAt2Az0sqvMsGKGGeGoSMPcC0cPNkKFn-1EugwuJjPqcoQkQI3RjHv23u2dWeCOOwe3Xg0-d~KAqcufIq8odyMZtaPKxFZPoVprBlPxRqQqoIZDH~I-UG7YvRWUkhi6cKiAVRpYSLjqYRS8vY8j2uWtrw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Memphis — The budget committee on June 9 approved a resolution to amend the fiscal year 2026 operating budget to provide an additional $50,000 to the senior citizen meals program by reallocating existing general‑fund dollars.

The item, sponsored by Councilwoman Green, originally proposed reducing $50,000 from the group life insurance and long‑term disability lines (line codes 51308 and 51315 within the general fund) and allocating the funds as grants to increase the senior citizen meals line to a proposed $140,000 for FY26.

During committee discussion staff and members sought clarity on the originating line for the transfer. Committee members indicated they had located an alternative source and moved to amend the resolution to take the $50,000 from the Family Safety Center allocation instead of the group life insurance and long‑term disability lines. The amendment was accepted and the committee sent the item forward with a favorable recommendation.

Why this matters: The change increases funding for senior meals in FY26 and demonstrates committee willingness to reassign targeted operating dollars within the general fund. Committee members asked that the final language be cleaned up and published before ratification.

Quotes: “I just wanted to ask on this one if it is okay if we could identify a location to find the $50,000 as opposed to the one that is outlined,” Mary Young said during discussion, asking for a specific line to be confirmed. Resident Walter Person suggested $50,000 remained available in the Family Safety Center allocation.

Procedure and next steps: The committee recorded the item as a favorable recommendation with the amendment shifting the funding source to the Family Safety Center line; final ratification will occur when the budget ordinance is adopted by the full council.

Ending: Committee members voted by voice and recorded no opposition during the meeting.","The Memphis budget committee recommended reallocating $50,000 to the senior citizen meals program for FY2026 by moving the funding source to a Family Safety Center line in the general fund, after clarifying the originating lines and accepting a funding‑source amendment.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6207023,"Council committee names FY26 CIP line for Douglas Community Center",146,1438000,1584000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3759748-c470c108dec5554f148bb2493adc3322&start=1438&end=1584","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3759748-c470c108dec5554f148bb2493adc3322/thumbnail_1438000.jpg","/articles/6207023/Memphis-City/Shelby-County/Tennessee/Council-committee-names-FY26-CIP-line-for-Douglas-Community-Center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207023-e2f3bf9da890fd1a5401ff8301ffe388/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166001&Signature=EoNXLOGO4mKsc5kwfc7A09sy4k6HJRr7sVom48rVIkOnPKisj4EMZ~QffcM2KXnsOh6fQaBQAXrYcRHDZCmoXPZXYuWmuuqYQ4NglhDpDx8b2uvPq0c0vgziYdtZ21kAA782qtrtXbFokqQr~4jPpFhUcibeyYMCx-HLyL-44gqXwDb6s2Y8lxNsVbI-T73ybr8HP6eBg7igy5cxZjuzsGOsHxBdjfv7OwHXs3UniHi7gzOGaDITF1mBqap3hRiNSILTM8QwgDR8w0Dyi6cZHHy-LP-xMN7~fm~lk2nWfUbOe1CUWPHNGqw7b3Ar7rzPoXHahOUEYloko6A8tGqxbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Memphis — The budget committee on June 9 voted to rename a fiscal year 2026 capital improvement program (CIP) line item as the Douglas Community Center and to require council approval for any reallocations from that line.

Councilwoman Easter Thomas introduced the resolution to assign the name to the CIP entry currently labeled “PK TBD Community Center replacement.” She said the proposed project would follow completion of the Westwood Community Center and is slated to appear in FY28 (summer 2027) construction scheduling if approved. “Douglas Community Center is well deserving and needing of a replacement,” she said, requesting colleagues’ support.

The resolution was moved by Councilwoman White, seconded by Councilmember Logan and others, and recorded as having a favorable recommendation from the committee. Interim parks director Marsha Allen was cited by Easter Thomas as having brought the request forward to place a name on the existing CIP line item.

Why this matters: Naming a CIP line clarifies project planning and signals intent to program funds and scheduling in upcoming capital planning cycles. The resolution also requires that any allocation or readjustment from the named line item receive prior approval by the Memphis City Council.

Procedure and next steps: The committee’s favorable recommendation will be incorporated into the FY26 budget ordinance language for full council consideration.

Ending: The committee adopted the recommendation by voice vote; no members recorded opposition during the committee meeting.","The Memphis City Council budget committee approved a resolution to name a fiscal year 2026 capital improvement program line item the Douglas Community Center, making the project title official and specifying that transfers from that line require council approval.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Memphis budget committee backs flat 3% raise for city employees, ties potential XAI property tax to reserves

Budget committee redirects $50,000 to senior meal program, shifts funding to Family Safety Center line

Council committee names FY26 CIP line for Douglas Community Center