A Community Coalition

www.RebuildGovernment.orgwww.twitter.com/RebuildGov

www.facebook.com/RebuildGov

Why Rebuild Government Now?

• Shelby County lost 47,674 individuals and $1.9 billion in income

• Shelby County lost 20,000 households and $1.2 billion in income to MSA* counties

• Memphis MSA has lost 2,530 households and $162 million in income to Nashville – Less than 50 households moved to Memphis.

• Of the 363 MSAs, we rank #318 in in-migration; Nashville was #10

Over a 10 year period:

*Metropolitan Statistical Area. Information attained from the IRS.

Why Rebuild Government Now?

Memphis

Nashville

New Jobs Growth

(200 largest cities)

Net New Income

(1998-2007)

Milken List ofBest-performing

Cities

# of GovernmentEmployees

Population(2000-2008)

#38 metro

Population up 18.2%

6,579 Davidson

County

14,792 Shelby County/

Memphis

#46

#22

#15 + $2.3 billion

#41 metro

Population up 6.7%

#117

#144

#134 - $434.9 million

A Comparison with Nashville

Nashville, who chose a Metro Government in the 1960’s, delivers services at a combined metro rate

for the same cost as Shelby County provides service to the county.

A Comparison of Tax Rates

Memphis

City County Cumulative

Nashville

Chattanooga

Knoxville

3.19

3.56

1.93

2.46

4.02

.57

2.77

2.36

7.21

4.13

4.70

4.82

Information taken from the cities’ official websites.

Nashville, who chose a Metro Government in the 1960’s, delivers services at a combined metro rate

for the same cost as Shelby County provides service to the county.

Tax rates are applied per every $100 of your appraised property value. *Reappraisal year.

$2

$3

$4

$5

$6

$7

$8

1988 1990 1992* 1994 1996 1998* 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010*

A History of Tax Rates

A Comparison with Nashville

There is a better, faster, cheaper way to deliver government, and it’s by making it smaller

and more effi cient.

Memphis/Shelby County

Nashville

Spent Per Year For I.T.

Spent Per Year

For Lawyers

Spent Per Year For H.R.

$31 million

$19 million

$12 million

$14.5 million

$5 million

$4.3 million

Information taken from the cities’ offi cial websites.

Taxing–If You Live in the County...

By state law, there has to be at

least 2 taxing districts created when

forming a Metropolitan Government.

There will be a “General Services”

taxing district–which can be

paralleled to Shelby County.

Bartlett

Germantown

Urban ServicesTax District

General ServicesTax District

Collierville

Lakeland

Arlington

Millington

General Services

Taxing–If You Live in the City...

What used to be within the city lim-

its of Memphis will now be called the

“Urban Services” taxing district. If

you live in the Urban Services

taxing district, you will pay this tax

in addition to the General Services

tax. If you live in a suburban city, you

will pay your suburban city tax and

the General Service tax–similar to

how you pay taxes now.

Urban Services

Bartlett

Germantown

Urban ServicesTax District

General ServicesTax District

Collierville

Lakeland

Arlington

Millington

Government Structure

By state law, a metropolitan government must be initiated by the largest municipality and the county government.

Government structures NOT affected by a Metro Government

Government structures affected by a Metro Government

Arlington

Bartlett

Germantown

Collierville

Lakeland

Millington

Memphis City Schools

Shelby County Schools

Metro Memphis /Shelby County

Shelby CountyGovernment

Memphis CityGovernment

Benefits for the Shelby County/Suburban Cities

• Stronger protections against tax hikes

• Stronger legal protections against the schools being merged

• Voice and vote over the entire Metro area–the county will get to vote on the Mayor, Council and MLGW

• More efficient use of tax dollars

• As a larger geographical area, the chance to bring more federal tax dollars back home for much-needed community and service improvements

• No more wasting tax dollars on a duplication

• Neighborhood-based districts closer to voters and more accountable

• One economic face and plan to attract industry and jobs

• More federal funds for community improvements

• Stronger protections against tax hikes

• Reposition Memphis/Shelby County nationally

Benefits for Memphis

1. Create a better place to live. By creating a more efficient and accountable government,

you create a community which brings more industry, jobs

and people to the area, growing the tax base.

2. Annexation. Metro Government failed in Nashville in 1958.

Aggressive annexation occurred from 1959-1960.

In 1961, the citizens of Nashville decided that a

Metro Government was a better choice.

3.Raise Taxes. Governments can continue to hike

taxes to raise the money they need.

Bartlett

Germantown

Collierville

Memphis Now2005+

Memphis Thru1950

Future MemphisAnnexation

Future MemphisAnnexation

Future MemphisAnnexation

Memphis Then1891

Lakeland

Arlington

Millington

Memphis–Then, Now & the Future

Governments typically have 3 ways to increase their tax revenues:

We want to create a better place to live.

Memphis & Shelby County Government Currently Has...

More than

Duplicated Managers

200More than

Government

Employees ThanNashville*

8,000 *Jacksonville, FL and the Memphis &

Shelby County Metropolitan Charter

Commission recommends eliminating

jobs through attrition/retirement so

that the local workforce will not

be negatively impacted.

Potential Savings

With Additional Potential Savings Such As...

More Federal Funds For Community

& Service Improvements

Nonpartisan Elections Will Save$1,000,000Every Four

Years

Improved& More Effi cient

911 System

Improved & More Effi cient Police & Fire Departments

The state of Tennessee has a dual-referendum vote for a Metro Government. Meaning that on

November 2, 2010, here will be a referendum on the ballot in the city of Memphis and another outside

the city, in the county. Both on the same day. Only if it passes in both places will the Metro Government

go into effect.

Bartlett

Germantown

Memphis

Shelby County

Collierville

Lakeland

Arlington

Millington

2010

The Vote

What Happens If I Vote “Yes?”

November 2, 2010

November 3, 2010

October 2011

January 2012

• Metro Government passed – transition phase begins.

• Non-partisan elections will be held for Metro Mayor & Metro Council.

• Ethics code becomes effective and the Transition Ethics Commission shall be appointed

and funded during transition.

• Thirty days after certification of the election, a Metro Transition Commission shall be established.

• 3 year tax freeze to ensure the new government looks to cut costs from its first days.

• New charter to take effect.

• New Mayor and Council take office. The first terms of the Metro Mayor and Council shall be

six year terms to align Metro elections with county election in 2018. One consecutive four year term

is available to the Metro Mayor and Council thereafter.

• The Metro Clerk, Register, Trustee, Sheriff and Assessor shall assume the positions of the

Metropolitan Government Constitutional Officers.

The Effects / Public Perception

Nashville 70% Approval Rating for the New GovernmentIn a survey conducted two years after the merger

79% Approval Rating for the New GovernmentOne year after the merger, 64% of the public held the consolidated government in a positive light. Two years later, that figure increased to 79%.

100’s of cities who are considering a Metro Government have visited Louisville in the past few years to learn about their successes

Jacksonville

Louisville

The Effects / Crime

Nashville

LouisvilleCreated the MetroSafe Emergency Communications SystemA $71 million single network to link police, fire, EMS and other first responders throughout Metro area

Crime Reduced by 7%While national average increased by 5%

Placed More Officers on the StreetTwo police departments combined under a new management structure placed more officers on the street, enabled them to offer better benefits and hire better talent

The Effects

Louisville

• Improved City Credit Rating Achieved the second highest city credit

rating behind San Diego

• MetroCall

Developed an information service via phone, e-mail and live chat that connects callers to live operators 24/7. Averages about 5,000 calls weekly

• Innovations in Planning Program -Gave citizens a stronger voice in planning and development

-Improves citizen access to hearings and review meetings

-Requires developers to meet with adjoining property owners and neighborhood groups before filing plans

• Smallest City to Land a NFL Franchise

• Hosted a Super Bowl

• Ranked as one of the “Hottest Cities in America” for business expansions and relocations for 10 years running in an Expansion Management Magazine poll

• $2.2 billion Better Jacksonville Plan

Jacksonville

The Effects

• Ranked #1 50 Hottest Cities for Relocation & Expansion by Expansion Magazine 2005 & 2006 • Ranked one of the fastest growing privately held company areas in America by Inc. Magazine 2006

• Ranked #16 Top Sports Town by Sporting News 2007

• Ranked #14 Best Cities for Jobs by Forbes 2008

• Ranked #8 as Metro Areas of 200 cities by Market Watch 2008

• Ranked #13 of 350 counties Best Places to Begin a Career by Forbes 2009

• Top 10 Greatest Low-Tax Places to retire by U.S. News & World News 2009

Nashville

Rebuild Government is a coalition of non-profits, grassroots groups & businesses

that have come together to make sure that the citizens in this community have the

best future possible. Just like you, we want to make sure that our new government:

• Wages war on crime

• Activates jobs growth

• Eliminates duplication and waste

• Brings the hammer down on unethical behavior• Believes that education decisions should remain with the two elected school boards• Values responsiveness and accountability

to its citizens

Our Vision & Values

We organized Rebuild Government to make sure the new charter being written by the Memphis and Shelby County Charter Commission is what the citizens of this community want. We are concerned about our community’s problems and we are convinced that talking about improving our government is the right conversation at the right time.

The Charter Commission begins with a blank slate, and that’s why we are engaging in a countywide conversation about what a new government could be – how it could increase efficiency and end duplication; how it could jump start our economy; how it could make our neighborhoods safer; how it could save money; how it could eliminate red tape and bureaucracy, and most of all, how a new government could work for everybody in every part of our community.

For more information or to host one of Rebuild Government’s small group meetings, please contact us: (901) 347-8623

A Community Coalition

www.RebuildGovernment.orgwww.twitter.com/RebuildGov

www.facebook.com/RebuildGov