A roadmap for the near-term future of Shelby County has been laid out, after Mayor Mickell Lowery unveiled his first term strategic plan.
Following the Aug. 3 election, Lowery’s transition team broke into nine working groups to brainstorm solutions to issues pertaining to public safety, education, economic growth, housing, public health, workforce training and the environment.
The 92-page “One Shelby” report, released Thursday, Oct. 22, details the recommendations on the buffet of public policy priorities. Unsurprisingly, the first term executive has zeroed-in on the county’s finances as the logical starting point.
Last November, the county had to borrow $43 million to meet payroll expenses. The county’s budget buckled under the crunch of increasing operational costs and revenue shortfalls. Much of the increase was a result of the Memphis Safe Task Force. With nearly 14,000 arrests tallied, the Shelby County Jail is currently bursting at the seams. Naturally, staffing needs increased alongside additional inmate population, with the cost covered by overtime.
The financial strain continued to worsen. In July, the county was forced to borrow an additional $125 million from its debt service fund to cover expenses — for payroll, again. The bridge loan allowed the county to stay afloat until the bulk of the property tax revenues began arriving in December.
“We are not in terrible shape. We have a cash flow issue. Our property taxes come in at a certain time. We still have a payroll we have to make. However, borrowing large sums of money cannot become our culture going forward,” said Lowery.
The loan could affect the county’s credit rating, which would make it more expensive to borrow money. Moreover, the cost will recur. On Oct. 16, attorney general Todd Blanche announced during a one-year anniversary visit to Shelby Farms that the task force would continue indefinitely.
Last month, Lowery had already held discussions with State Comptroller Jason Mumpower on the cash flow crunch and the various issues that led it.
“We know we are going to get large sums of revenue at a certain point in time, so can we also defer expenses until that certain point in time. That may call for renegotiations with some of our vendors,” said Lowery. “We want to do good business with everyone, but also, we may need to hold off on some of those payments. Again, that’s what comes with any cash flow issue.”
Corrections facilities were a part of the conversation. Built in 1981, the 45-year old Shelby County Jail hasn’t met the county’s needs in decades. Chronic overcrowding and wear-and-tear lead to annual multi-million dollar funding requests for repairs.
Once the county is on a better financial footing, the action plan calls for funding to shore up the current facility, while fleshing out details on a new, modern facility. During Lowery’s second term on the Shelby County Commission, the body was routinely called on to pass last minute resolutions to pay for critical repairs at the lockup. Tens of millions were spent on elevator repairs, plumbing, new refrigerators, jail doors and more.
Of course, that’s nothing compared to the price tag on a new facility. Estimates on a replacement run over $1 billion and rising. According to the document, Lowery intends on seeking funding from state sources. Still, the most controversial aspect of new jail will likely be the location.
Last year, commissioners rejected a proposal for a new jail in North Memphis. Lowery was the decisive vote. Other possibilities mentioned at the time were Shelby Farms, or to expand the current footprint in Downtown Memphis. Either choice would likely have its detractors too.
Early education also remains a top priority. During Lowery’s election night speech, he placed pre-k as his highest priority. It also topped the list when his campaign was announced. The goal of universal pre-k is within reach. Last year, the county fell a few percentage points short of perfection.
During the FY2026 budget season, the pre-k funding level remained flat. The county was locked into the rate after the Memphis City Council refused to budge on additional funding agreement with the county. Moreover, if the payment agreement was altered, the ordinance that established it would be nullified. During the “One Shelby” plan runup, Lowery held collaborative discussions with Memphis Mayor Paul Young on the matter.
