Mayor Vetoes Tax Hike, Commissioner Vows to Override it

Posted on: 9:20 pm, August 23, 2012, by Michele Reese, updated on: 10:19pm, August 23, 2012

(Memphis) ? The Shelby County Mayor vetoed a referendum that calls for a countywide sales tax increase. County Commissioners approved the tax hike to generate money for the unified school district.

?We have time to work through this process and determine what the cost will be,? Mayor Mark Luttrell said.

Mayor Luttrell says no one knows what the unified school district will cost and wants the school board to come up with a budget before the county starts raising funds.

?I think we need to let the deliberative process continue and get a clear picture of what the needs are then if there?s a requirement of a tax increase we present it to the public then with some hard evidence as to why we need it,? Luttrell said.

But Commission Ritz said there? isn?t time to wait.

?If we don`t do it now, the city puts the vote on in November and it goes through, then next year if we want to do it, first of all we?d have to wait two years to get the money then put to vote to just voters just in the unincorporated areas,? Ritz said.

While Mayor Luttrell has vetoed the tax, county commission can override it. Ritz thinks he has the votes to do it and he has this message for the mayor.

?He needs to stand back and let the county commission worry about the financing of schools because he doesn?t really have a vote on that matter. Nor any influence frankly,? Ritz said.

The Mayor said if his veto is overturned, he will publicly fight to defeat the tax increase.

This is an important vote because if commissioners put this on the ballot in November and if voters approve it, that would void the suburbs vote earlier this month. They voted to increase their sales tax for their own school districts.

On top of that, a countywide tax would also void Memphis?s sales tax vote in November. The city is hoping to raise money to help with its budget problems.

Source: http://wreg.com/2012/08/23/mayor-vetoes-tax-hike-commissioner-vows-to-override-it/

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