Why You Should Care About Vote on Consolidation

By Rebuild Government on July 9th, 2010

Special to the Tri-State Defender

Darrell Cobbins is chairman of Rebuild Government, a nonprofit organization focused on educating and gathering input from Shelby County citizens around the new metro government charter process.

Darrell
Cobbins

In less than 130 days, voters will have a chance to participate in an historic vote – whether or not to consolidate the city and county government. We will all have a say in whether our community’s form of local government continues under the existing structure of two separate governments (City and County) we have now or streamlines into a Metropolitan form of government (one combined single government) like in our peer cities such as Nashville.

This vote will take place on two separate fronts, one vote within the Memphis city limits and one vote in those suburban areas lying outside of Memphis. It will take a majority vote in each of the separate, same-day elections for the measure to pass. The most important questions: What does this mean to the African-American community? And why should it matter to you?

Rebuild Government’s mission is to inform and educate the citizens of Shelby County on the work of the charter Commission and to gather public input for the body to deliberate on in making recommendations for the new charter. It is vital that all segments of the population understand the facts, undiluted by rhetoric and undistorted by political agendas. That said, here are some key issues to consider:

Economic development: Laser focus on higher-paying jobs

All public and contract agencies dealing with economic development will be coordinated in this office, where they support a shared vision that is tied to the strategic plan and plan of action aimed at jobs creation and business investment. The department also creates a “one stop shop” for marketing our community, accessing incentives and resources, and engaging private sector support. With African-American unemployment at almost 17 percent, growing more high-paying jobs provides the opportunity for families to improve their quality of life.

Taxing Districts: Fairness and equity for services.

As required by state law, there are three types of taxing districts: a “general” taxing district, which is the equivalent of today’s countywide taxing district, an “urban” taxing district, which is like today’s Memphis taxing district, and ”special” taxing districts, which are established to accommodate specific service needs of citizens in a particular area of the county. Parks, recreation, and museums; economic and job development; health and welfare; and roads and traffic are among the general services that are funded countywide. This method ensures fair and equitable contribution from all citizens for government services they receive and addresses the “double-taxation” issue that is continually debated between both governments today. For the elderly and struggling African-Americans, whose incomes are typically lower than their counterparts, they are most susceptible to being directly affected by the out of control tax burden that exists today, hampering the job growth prospects and net migration into Memphis from other parts of the U.S.

School Funding: State-mandated funding by countywide tax base.

Funding for schools will come from the countywide (or general services district) tax base, in keeping with the Tennessee constitutional requirement for county governments to provide school funding. This eliminates the funding dilemma that presents itself annually for Memphis City Schools’ budget and places the responsibility on the taxpayers of Shelby County to fund both Memphis City and Shelby County Schools systems. MCS is more than 90 percent African-American student population, thus it is in the best interest of the overall community to fully fund the school system through the proper governance channels, so it can plan and invest in the education of our children.

Office of Diversity and Small Business: Watchdog for more business with local minority and women-owned businesses.

This office will be a constant advocate and monitor to encourage the new government to do more business with minority and women-owned businesses in Shelby County. It will also work to create more entrepreneurs and start-up businesses, because they are sources of most new jobs today. This new office will seek to encourage minority entrepreneurial businesses access and growth opportunities through local government addressing the economic disparities that have persisted far too long in this community.

Planning and Community Development Department: Focus on neighborhoods and livable communities.

Planning and community development are merged into a single department that will focus on creating a neighborhood canvas that creates a better community focusing on neighborhood revitalization, sustainability and smart growth. There will also be a Neighborhoods Commission that will lead programs affecting the quality of life of our neighborhoods, including zoning, walk/bike issues, safety, and public investments. Inner-city communities are in desperate need of coordinated and strategic investment. This new structure allows for a coordinated set of strategies that encourage investment in the rebuilding of these communities that have historically been underserved.

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The African-American community often laments finding out about these monumental decisions after the fact or at the last minute. You have a chance to let your voice be heard now. There are several opportunities for community input before the final draft of the charter commission is submitted in August. There are three public hearings scheduled during the month of July, including July 8 at the Memphis Botanic Garden, 750 Cherry Road; July 15, Southwind High School, 7900 East Shelby Drive; July 22, Ed Rice Community Center, 2907 N. Watkins Street.

The last vote on merging our two governments was nearly 40 years ago in 1971. But Mayor AC Wharton Jr., the Memphis City Council and the Shelby County Commission saw the need to revisit the issue today, realizing that a metropolitan form of government may be the beginning of a solution to some of the issues we face in making government more effective. In November of 2009, Wharton appointed the Memphis-Shelby County Metropolitan Government Charter Commission, which is comprised of 15 residents from all over Shelby County. Their charge has been to work to develop a new charter that would propose a new government structure, departments and policies that would position local government to effectively and efficiently serve current and future generations.

There are distinctive issues that impact local African-American communities disproportionately, where local government can have a direct impact. For Memphis and Shelby County’s African-American community, which is the majority population, this new charter process represents an opportunity to reposition local government to address issues that directly affect the quality of life for residents in the metro area. We want our children to have a better future. We want our children to want to stay in Memphis or return to Memphis. We want good paying jobs, quality public education, safe neighborhoods. And most importantly, we want, without question, a fair and equitable environment that supports our pursuit of the American Dream.

To date, the Charter Commission has made numerous decisions about the form and function of this new government. A summary of these decisions can be reviewed in their entirety at http://rebuildgovernment.org/.

It is estimated that within the next few decades, the Memphis metropolitan area will become the first majority minority region in the United States. The fate of this community is directly linked to the fate of the majority population. We should all make the commitment to know what’s being proposed and to make an informed decision on November 2nd about the future of Memphis and Shelby County.