In this issue
- Bartlett’s mobile stage
- FY26 budget proposed
- MSCS facility assessment
Bartlett’s mobile stage
Bartlett recently approved the purchase of a mobile stage to support the City’s many events throughout the year.
The stage will mimic the look of the Keith McDonald Pavilion and will be outfitted with battery-powered speakers and lights, delivering entertainment to every corner of the community.
Parks and Recreation Director Paul Wright told the Board of Mayor and Alderman that the stage would be a less costly alternative to building an amphitheater, which had been part of the plan for W.J. Freeman Park.
The mobile stage purchase was made possible by a grant from Shelby County. I look forward to seeing it in action.
FY26 budget proposed
This past month Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and MSCS Interim Superintendent Roderick Richmond presented their proposed budgets for fiscal year 2026, which begins July 1.
At some point prior to that date, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners must adopt 1. a budget for the county, 2. a budget for the school district, 3. a combined capital budget to address the infrastructure needs of both, and 4. a county property tax rate.
One thing that is abundantly clear: the county does not have the resources to cover every need on the horizon, or even on our doorstep, particularly when it comes to facilities. Keep this in mind as discussions continue on maintaining county schools, the county hospital, and the county jail.
Determining which projects are funded and which are deferred is the primary role of any legislative body, and the majority decides.
MSCS facility assessment
Speaking of capital needs, for many weeks, I’ve been working to obtain and compile the results of a multi-million dollar facility assessment commissioned by Memphis Shelby County Schools.
A summary of the assessment shows the district faces nearly $3 billion in maintenance costs over the next 20 years.
MSCS has yet to fully release this information to the public, but I am sharing both the totals from the executive summary, and 191 lines of detail that I have manually reproduced, here.
Upcoming meetings
June 11 — Budget subcommittee, 9 a.m.
June 12 — Budget town hall, 5:30 p.m.
June 14 — Budget town hall, 10 a.m.
June 18 — Standing Committees, 8:30 a.m.
June 23 — Commission meeting, 3 p.m.
Stay in touch
If you have a question or concern, email me at mick.wright@shelbycountytn.gov.
You can speak with the Commission office by calling 901-222-1000.
I welcome your feedback on Facebook @CommissionerMickWright and X @mickwright.
Thanks for reading.
Mick Wright
Shelby County Commission – District 3