Memphis Mayor A C Wharton probably does deserve some benefit of the doubt, given that 60 percent of city voters selected him in a crowded special election in October that included several other candidates with proven electoral success. He also has a strong claim to slowing the rate of spending as county mayor, where he oversaw implementation of a plan to tame what had been an out-of-control debt. And it is of significance that he had nothing to do with the City Council, in 2008, voting to slash spending to Memphis City Schools but then basically spending every dime of the savings on other things, including 8-percent total raises to city workers during the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression.
All that said, Wharton knew when he decided to run for mayor that the No. 1 challenge that would face him upon election involved the budget and, more specifically, how to deal with school funding. In Amos Maki's story today on the budget, Wharton again makes the former point (he inherited the mess) but leaves out the latter (he had to know what he was getting into).
This is less disingenuous than the email Wharton sent to email subscribers on Jan. 28 claiming that when he took office in October, he "did not anticipate having to make these kinds of drastic budget cuts" and that he "did not expect this latest challenge but I will embrace it." Mayor Wharton, being a voracious newspaper consumer (you go, Mayor!), could have read our story from Oct. 18 just after his election that laid out in detail the budget and school-funding issues as the new administration's biggest early challenge:
All that said, Wharton knew when he decided to run for mayor that the No. 1 challenge that would face him upon election involved the budget and, more specifically, how to deal with school funding. In Amos Maki's story today on the budget, Wharton again makes the former point (he inherited the mess) but leaves out the latter (he had to know what he was getting into).
Wharton also said he is doing his best to fix a budget situation he inherited, noting that the City Council cut funding to Memphis City Schools two years ago and then spent much of the savings. Since that time, two courts have ordered the city to pay MCS $50 million. "I was not involved in the decision to eliminate MCS's funding," said Wharton in a statement he issued Wednesday. "I have only been involved in trying to repair the damage to our city's fiscal future."
This is less disingenuous than the email Wharton sent to email subscribers on Jan. 28 claiming that when he took office in October, he "did not anticipate having to make these kinds of drastic budget cuts" and that he "did not expect this latest challenge but I will embrace it." Mayor Wharton, being a voracious newspaper consumer (you go, Mayor!), could have read our story from Oct. 18 just after his election that laid out in detail the budget and school-funding issues as the new administration's biggest early challenge:
Even putting aside the $34.6 million owed for (2009), the school system believes it will defeat the city in legal fights over $57.4 million dating back to a 2008 City Council vote to cut school funding. And that would bring into play another $80 million for city schools next fiscal year (2011). . . . "I think they're very tough decisions," said City Councilman Jim Strickland, a Wharton campaign co-chairman known for his focus on fiscal responsibility. "With the school funding you have to either reduce expenses, spend money from reserves or raise taxes, or a combination of all that."Now, at this point, Wharton is correct -- the focus should be on the future and nobody should be under any illusion that this budget process will not involve "pain." But picking the poison will reveal priorities, especially given that potential challengers to Wharton are already trying to determine if they want to run against him in 2011 city elections. Strickland is correct -- Wharton could come out strong for a budget that rolls back those raises and apply pressure to council members. But Wharton may be smart not to pick a fight he believes he won't win, choosing instead to save political capital for other items on his ambitious agenda. By the end of this process, we will certainly have a clearer idea of the top priorities for this mayor and his administration.
Wharton said he intends to make all sides on this complicated issue see past the short-term skirmishes to find agreement on feasible long-term partnerships. "I am optimistic we will be able to reach some accord that does not bring financial jeopardy to either the city or the school system," Wharton said.
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