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Last week, I shared what is in this year’s budget. This week, I want to show you how we made the decisions and how we found a responsible path to funding progress across Memphis.
We started with a structural gap of more than $32 million. Costs were rising across the board. Pension contributions increased by more than $7 million. Healthcare costs grew by more than $8.5 million. Salary, benefit adjustments, and other related costs added another $8 million. At the same time, divisions across City government identified more than $38 million in additional needs related to staffing, operations, and service delivery.
So we went to work.
We evaluated more than $150 million in options. That included investments, operational savings, and structural changes. We worked division by division. We did not just ask what departments wanted to add. We asked what it actually takes to deliver the services residents depend on and where we needed to make adjustments.
That led to real decisions.
We removed funding from long-standing vacant positions across city government. We reduced non-essential spending across every division, including cuts to relocation, food, catering, and furnishings. We tightened personnel costs, including overtime, bonuses, and healthcare contributions. We also reset one-time spending and carry-forward dollars so the budget reflects true, ongoing costs.
In total, we made more than $50 million in reductions. At the same time, we made the decision to fund progress. We made new investments, and we protected critical, ongoing investments across the city.
 Click the image above to view the budget presentation slides.
Those investments include everything I shared last week and the highlights from the budget presentation that you can view here, they also include:
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$32.6 million for transit through MATA, because people depend on reliable transportation to get to work, school, and appointments
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$2.6 million for community initiatives and nonprofit partners championed by our City Council
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$1 million in MLGW assistance to help residents keep the lights on
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$1 million in public safety initiatives, alongside the broader investment in police and fire services
- Increased investment in the Office of Creative and Cultural Economy, supporting artists, culture, and the industries that help drive Memphis’ economy
We also sustained investments that are just as important, even if they are less visible:
- $21 million for pensioners' insurance, honoring the people who built this city and keeping the commitments we made to them
- Continued investment in libraries, parks, and community spaces, including new and upgraded facilities across Memphis
- Expanded support through the Office of Youth Services, connecting young people to programs, mentorship, and opportunity
- Ongoing work through the Office of Community Affairs, helping residents remove barriers and move forward
Every one of those investments required an offset. That is how we closed the gap and delivered a balanced budget of $897.7 million without raising taxes.
And those decisions do not stay on a spreadsheet. They show up on your block.
They show up in the crews maintaining streets and infrastructure. They show up in cleaner neighborhoods and reduced blight. They show up in young people working and building skills. They show up in housing and workforce investments that create stability. They show up in the teams delivering public safety and neighborhood services every day.
The through-line is that we made hard choices to fund progress where people live. We built this budget for you. And to keep Memphis moving forward.
Our city is mourning the loss of Representative G. A. Hardaway. He was a longtime friend to my family and me, and a dedicated leader for Central Memphis, including Orange Mound and Binghampton. He understood the people he served, and he stood up for them every day.
His impact will be felt for years to come. My prayers are with his family and loved ones. Memphis is better because he served, and we will honor his legacy by flying flags at half-staff this week.
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