The City Council and County Commission had a big opportunity to raise revenue and invest in what we need most–but instead, they chose austerity and left our communities underfunded in the final budgets. By sticking with the state’s insufficient certified tax rate, they left hundreds of millions of dollars on the table, which could have gone toward public transit, affordable housing, mental health care, youth programs, community violence intervention, and more.
The state-certified tax rate is not enough to meet our basic needs, keep up with rising costs, or close the gap between wealthy and working-class neighborhoods in Shelby County. The failure to raise revenue is a political choice that causes lasting harm, especially to communities that have already faced decades of disinvestment and instability.
Almost every suburban government in Shelby County made a different choice, raising their tax rates to invest in services, support workers, and improve quality of life. Memphis and Shelby County should be doing the same–a small adjustment would make a big difference.
The Moral Budget Coalition was founded on the idea that budgets are moral documents that reflect our values. These choices show clearly who is being invested in, and who is being left behind.
At the final County budget meeting, a public commenter uplifted the words of a young man who had spoken during a recent community panel: “Why do young people have to go to jail for you to invest in us?”
Our kids shouldn’t have to ask questions like that. They should see, in every budget decision, that their futures matter. That’s why we‘ll keep fighting, and we won’t let this moment pass us by.
We want to thank our partners and the pastors, volunteers, and advocates who stood up for a Moral Budget. Whether you emailed your elected officials, stood with us at a press conference, offered public comment, wrote an op-ed, or simply helped spread the word, your voice made a difference.
This year, we saw Moral Budget priorities gain more traction than ever before. Commissioners publicly questioned the status quo. Some pushed to raise the property tax rate above the state-certified level. We made important progress toward universal Pre-K so our youngest learners can have a strong start.
We didn’t get everything we fought for, but the movement for a Moral Budget is growing. We’ll keep building power until our budgets reflect our values and truly meet the needs of our people and communities.