New Shelby County budget OK’d with sheriff’s office jobs included

Mayor Lee Harris presents his budget proposal to the Shelby County Commission on May 4, 2022.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Shelby County Commissioners approved a new county budget with a stable property tax rate, a 6% raise for employees, and funding for vacant positions in the sheriff’s office, county sources say.

A major issue was 441 positions that were set to be cut from the sheriff’s office budget under Mayor Lee Harris’ proposal. Many had been vacant for more than a year.

But those positions were added back after Sheriff Floyd Bonner threatened to sue, citing state law governing budget cuts to the sheriff’s office.

The county’s property tax rate holds steady at $3.39 per $100 of assessed value.

Some cuts proposed by Commissioner Mick Wright were approved, including eliminating funds for the county clerk’s office in Poplar Plaza, which closed after the clerk was evicted.

Monday’s meeting stretched past midnight. The fiscal year 2025 budget goes into effect July 1.