- FAST FACTS:
- Council Votes to Use Reserve Funds
- Members Passed $16 Million in Cuts
- City Workers Keep Raises
tom.powell@wreg.com
(MEMPHIS June 16, 2009 11:44 PM) -- The Memphis City Council voted to approve a budget Tuesday after several weeks of budget hearings and a final marathon session that went late into the night.
Several members wanted to slash about $11 million from the budget by eliminating the 3% raises promised to all city employees. Union leaders objected, and the council voted to keep the raises.
A comprimise came around 11:00 p.m. when Councilman Harold Collins proposed accepting $16 million in cuts to the overall budget that had already been approved, in addition to using $16 million in reserve funds.
Mayor Herenton presented a balanced budget, but members say the cuts were necessary because the fear a judge will rule against them this summer, and force them to restore funding to the Memphis City Schools.
WREG News Channel 3 was there to get reaction from several council members after the final vote. Watch WREG News Channel 3 Daybreak for the latest.
