County Budget Passes: Mayor Pleased

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - When the County Commissioners finished their budget deliberations passing the amended proposal eleven to one, Shelby County Mayor Joe Ford was in a pretty good mood.

"I am completely satisfied with both the operations and the C.I.P budget today." said County Mayor Joe Ford "I got most of everything I wanted with the exception of the 75 jobs that we can look at next year to eliminate so I am 100 percent satisfied."

The commission voted to increase funding for the MED by 10 million dollars, but eliminate 75 positions in County Government after September...

Commissioner Mike Carpenter said "I am pleased that we made a commitment to eliminate 75 positions. Those are vacant positions or positions created by retirees so we are not talking about jobs we are talking about positions that's important because that will help in fiscal year 12 when were projecting already a $18 million deficit."

The reason behind the cuts is to save the County nearly $2 million to go directly towards its debts.

"Our debt is already going down," said Commissioner Steve Mulroy "but the debt will go down quicker now because of that savings from the 75 eliminated positions."

Public Safety jobs are also safe from any cuts.

"I was concerned about deputy sheriffs, the jailers over at the Corrections Center. That's been corrected and I am happy."

Also in the budget there was a long over due pay raise for County employees.

Commissioner Mulroy said "County Employees have not had a raise for a number of years. This would have been the 3rd year in a row that we denied them any raise while at the same time we have been increasing their health care premiums. So effectively they have been getting a pay cut in inflationary times and tough economic times. So what we did was a long overdue pay raise for county employees."