Graphic Credit: Main Street Journal
Property Tax Increase?

 
Memphis City Councilman Shea Flinn is expected to propose a one-time, 39 cent increase to the property tax to cover the $57 million payment to MCS. That’s a 12% increase, to $7.61 per $100 of assessed value. It is estimated to generate $40 million. Outrage was immediate. More reports from ABC24, WREG, the Commercial Appeal.

The State Comptroller’s Division of Property Assessment has a long list of TN property tax rates by Municipality and County.

Memphis City Council: At today’s meeting, Memphis mayor A C Wharton will present his City budget and his options for paying for it. The Council’s agenda for the meeting is here.

City-County Schools Merger: At the request of counsel (for both sides) yesterday’s hearing was delayed two weeks so that a mediator can be brought in. Additional reports from WKNO-FM, The Flyer’s Jackson Baker, Fox13, the Commercial Appeal.

DeSoto County: The protest by the Tea Party of Mississippi at the Muhammad Islamic Center has been called off; the group will instead join a Federal budget protest in Washington, DC. The County Board of Supervisors has approved the district and polling location changes, clearing a path for the next election to start on time. From the Commercial Appeal, the Bulletin Board.

Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County: The man nominated to be chairman of EDGE, Mark Yates, was involved over the weekend in an incident involving the police and his wife Downtown that may now jeopardise his nomination.

Tennessee: Since Federal authorities seized the drugs used in lethal injections, the State is presented with several problems with death row inmates. New methods of execution may be studied.

Mississippi River: Planned cuts in the budget for the Corps of Engineers will have a negative impact on the Port of Memphis and business that depends on the River for transportation.

Second Amendment: We have the full, if brief, text of University of Memphis President Shirley Raines’ comments on TN Senate Bill SB0051, allowing concealed carry of guns by permit holders on campus. The Commercial Appeal’s pro-gun control story from Sunday and a wider roundup of news reports this week from Tom Humphrey of the Knoxville News-Sentinel. More reporting from Fox13. Campus reaction, from ABC24. Via the Knoxville News-Sentinel, reaction on the UT campus.

McDonald’s: Tomorrow is the day when the company will accept appliations to hire 50,000 people nationwide–about 3 or 4 people per store.

The Haslam Administration: Governor Bill Haslam says his “faith helps me make decisions”.

US Senator Lamar Alexander: In a speech on Monday, he suggested Congress needs a “straightjacket” to accomplish spending control.

Youth Villages: The state’s largest provider of youth services to kids is merging with Oregon-based ChristieCare, another provider of specialised services to kids and families with mental-health challenges. YV website here.

Business: Northrop Grumman’s Memphis operation is losing 33 jobs; more from the Daily News. The number of new business filings in Shelby County was down nearly one-quarter in 2011, compared to last year.

Today’ Events, in the Daily News. What to Do and People in Business, from the Commercial Appeal.

Pinnacle Airlines: Higher passenger counts in March and year-to-date, but the numbers also reflect the acquisition of Mesaba Aviation.

Volkswagen: The first Chattanooga-made VW Passat rolled off the assembly line yesterday.

FedEx: The company claims that the handful of “tax day” protesters have their facts wrong.

NEW! Internet Exclusive: Memphis Film Commission’s Linn Sitler: Main Street Journal contributor Mick Wright talks with Sitler about Getting Memphis Before the Cameras again.

Internet Exclusive: Shelby County Commissioner Steve Mulroy: Commissioner Mulroy takes a few minutes to explain Why the Need for Public Secrecy? when it comes to County Commission business on public issues.

Shelby County Commission: After reconsideration and some clarification, the commission reversed itself and banned the use of paid time off as “reward” for participation in charity programs. More in the CA. Commissioner Mike Ritz is calling on them to sue MLG&W over long-due tax payments.

Memphis City Schools: The board is expected to plan a board retreat to discuss plans for the transition to County administration. The Memphis Education Association (the teachers’ union) blasted the school board for trying to create a teacher evaluation plan different from the Statewide model.

Tax Time: The average tax refund is smaller this year.

DeAuntae Farrow: The civil trial in the death of the West Memphis child by West Memphis police officers Erik Sammis and Jimmy Evans has seated a jury. The plaintiffs “allege the officers used excessive force and violated their civil rights”.

State Education Reform: The Senate version of the bill to strip union collective bargaining rights for teachers is being amended to make it more amenable to Democrats and liberal Republicans. Governor Bill Haslam appeared on FoxNews to talk about teacher tenure reform.

Abortion: The State Senate approved Monday the Senate Joint Resolution 127, which removes a “right to abortion” from the State Constitution. SJR0127. (PDF document) It next goes to the House, which is expected to pass it easily. More reports from the Nashville City Paper, the Tennessean, Fox13, the Commercial Appeal.

Politics: A panic attack by Chattanooga Democrat JoAnne Favors results in a ban on pets in the State Capitol? The State House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote today on a bill to lowering the requirements for notice of a foreclosure auction notice. The AARP is claiming fraud in some robo-calls being made claiming they are supporting the effort by States to void Obamacare. WPLN discusses how to make sure all citizens have voter photo ID; more on the subject from WKNO-FM. Are Nashville legislators (ie Republicans) trying to usurp local control from Cities and Counties?

TN Republican Party: More on the Executive Committee’s decision to continue with open primaries. How the Republican majority is reshaping election law around the state.

Mississippi: Governor Haley Barbour underwent surgery Monday to correct lower back pain.

Financial: The Heritage Banking Group has been acquired by Trustmark National Bank.

County Commissioner Chris Thomas: Commissioner Thomas gives his unfiltered thoughts on the Unified school board and the merger with Memphis City Schools, wondering, So Many Questions, So Few Answers.

Roxana Saberi in Memphis: Occasional contributor Mick Wright was at the appearance of the Iranian-Japanese-American author who spent spent 100 days in an Iranian jail on trumped-up charges. He sent us this report on her life, her new book (Between Two Worlds: My Life and Captivity in Iran) and her experiences.

2011 Memphis Giving Guide: If you want to help but aren’t sure where to volunteer your time or donate your money, this free Memphis Giving Guide, from the Main Street Journal, can help you find the Christ-led ministries effecting social change in Memphis. (11 MB PDF document; right-click and save)

Bob Palmer: Are you using technology to keep you business moving forward? (via the Daily News)

Smart Stuff 4 Work: The lessons of the peppered moth. (via the Daily News)

Jack McElroy: He decries what he sees as Republican dishonesty on open, transparent and accessible government. (via the Knoxville News-Sentinel)

Jackson Sun: The legacy of Lambuth University would be in good hands if the University of Memphis took over.