Memphis/Shelby Metro Government: Fact or Fiction?

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - It has been done before. Folks in Nashville and Louisville have successful metro governments. Now, Shelby County has another chance at it. In November, you will decide the fate of a Metro government. But before you carve your opinion in stone, make sure you know what is really fact and fiction.

Fact or Fiction: Public service will decrease under a metro government.

Professor in the Division of Public and Nonprofit Administration at the University of Memphis, Charles Menifield has the explanation. He said it's not necessarily true, but we would experience a few growing pains.

"In the transition period, computer systems, those sorts of things need to be worked out," Menifield said.

Fact or Fiction: Taxes will increase because of consolidation.

That's fact for some residents, fiction for others.

"It's definitely not true for the person paying the highest tax rate right now," Menifield said. However, Menifield added, research shows eventually, the tax rate would "even out."

"Over time, as the system becomes more efficient, theoretically, you can reduce that cost because the transition period is over, but sometimes, as budgets grow, then services grow with it," Menifield said.

Fact or Fiction: It will cost a lot of money to consolidate.

"That's true and false," Menifield said. "The merging of services, especially on the scale of Memphis and Shelby County, it's going to cost money."

Bur Menifield stated that would mostly be in the initial transition. "In 10 years, we will see dividends," Menifield said.

Fact or Fiction: People will lose their jobs.

"It's partially fact. It's mostly fiction," Menifield said. "It would be more at the top; divisional directors, mid-level managers, definitely at the top."

Metro Government Charter Commission member Jim Strickland said the commission will vote to approve the charter in August. It still has a few things to work out.

"We have to draw the districts for the metro council. And two, we're having at least three public forums where the public can come in and tell us their thoughts," Strickland said.

As it stands now, the charter doesn't touch city and county schools.

"We will have one mayor. We will have one council. We will have one fire department," Strickland said.

Policing will be done by the Metro Police Chief. The Sheriff will be in charge of the jail and court systems.

"This does not affect the cities of Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett, Arlington, Millington, and Lakeland. Those cities still will be intact. Still will have their mayors, still will provide services," Strickland said.

And most likely, approving a metro government will come down to those areas outside of Memphis.

"In Tennessee, when consolidation is voted on, there are two votes on the same day: one vote in the city of Memphis and one vote in the suburbs around Memphis. And it has to get over 50-percent in both jurisdictions," Strickland said.

Election Day is November 2.