2009 June 12

Press Release: Commissioner Mike Carpenter Responds to the Shelby County Tax Rate Document

The Main Street Journal Website

(The following press release is published as it was received by the Main Street Journal.)

(From Shelby County Commissioner Mike Carpenter, who is responding to this document (XLS format), showing the results of various Shelby County property tax rates.)

I wanted to comment on the posting of Commissioner Ritz’s chart of property tax revenues. I assume that if I sent over charts or graphs on a county commission subject that you would post it as well. The headline says the rate to be set at 4.04 — not true. $4.02 is the proposed rate. This rate was proposed in agreement with Sheriff Luttrell and General Gibbons as well as the Administration to save all Sheriff layoffs and to add District Attorneys (currently DAs have nearly 1,000 cases per DA). This would not have been necessary if Commissioner Ritz, Bunker, Avery or Flinn had voted for my original budget plan. My plan cut $18 million, used $3 million from reserve and $3 million from the sell of the Pyramid to balance the budget with no layoffs this year, plus added the DAs. In exchange the county would have laid off between 250-300 next year. Clearly, the more conservative approach. I lacked one vote being able to amend the budget in committee and force a final vote on the measure.

Back to Commissioner Ritz’s chart. I don’t argue with the numbers. My argument is with what he doesn’t tell you. He fails to mention that Inmate Medical Care required by law rose by $1 million. He fails to mention the county absorbed .10 on the City tax rate when the City refused to continue to fund half of the health department. He also fails to mention the additional $2.5 million needed to implement the criminal justice coordinating committee’s proposals (supported by Luttrell & Gibbons) to keep jail population below capacity and the county out from under federal court oversight. These items alone, not to mention inflationary increases, eat up his surplus.

Numbers without context are worthless. It’s the Willingham/Saino approach to politics. “Wow ‘em with data and maybe they won’t ask any questions.” I am not happy about 4.02 either, but I offered an alternative, something Ritz, et Al didn’t do. Unlike them, I won’t compromise public safety over
.02 on the tax rate. For the record, the difference between 4.00 and 4.02 on a $200,000 house is $10 a year. It should also be noted that at 4.02, 46% of Shelby County taxpayers will receive a reduction in their property taxes.

I know there is honest disagreement about the tax rate and certainly appraisals have disturbed everyone. My complaint is with disseminating data without any explanation or context. At a minimum, voters deserve the full picture and to be allowed to draw their own conclusions.

Commissioner Mike Carpenter
Shelby County Commissioner

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