Wharton Looks Ahead to City Budget

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Mayor AC Wharton tried to paint a positive picture for the budget season. But some city council members say, it'll be one of the toughest budgets to handle.

A very positive Memphis Mayor prepared the city council for the beginning of budget season. The city is going in with a 78-million dollar shortfall.

"It's going to be the worst budget season I've been through," Councilman Jim Strickland said.

Mayor AC Wharton spoke generally about the options he has in front of him. They included wrapping up Bass Pro, the Fairgrounds, Graceland, and other major projects.

"It may be a combination of cutting, refinancing, maximizing existing revenue streams, consolidating services, possible out-sourcing," Wharton said.

There was something missing from the upbeat presentation: The taboo phrase, "tax increase."

"I am not considering a tax increase. That's the wrong way to start the discussion. You start the discussion by saying, can we be more efficient, can we be more productive, then and only then, will we... get to... we might have to raise taxes," Wharton said.

The mayor hinted at where the cuts might come from. He said about 65-percent of the city's budget is tied up in fire and police.

"I think we try to cut wherever we can. And I think if there's some things we can do, we do," Police Director Larry Godwin said.

These positive outlooks might only last so long in what's forecasted to be a mean budget season.

"The tough part is going to be when we really have to address the budget," Strickland said.

The mayor did say, continuing to fulfill the Memphis City Schools' funding is the biggest threat to the budget.