The Beacon Center, a fiscally conservative watchdog group, recently published its annual study listing all the ways state and local governments could be wasting taxpayer dollars. One beef in the "Pork Report" is Memphis' liberal use of tax incentives to spur economic development. Is the city being too generous, especially with major resident corporations, like FedEx and Graceland?
Another recent debate surrounds Mayor Jim Strickland's upgraded garbage collection services. While the improvements certainly have "curb appeal," they also come with a higher pricetag. The mayor is threatening layoffs if the city council doesn't approve a rate hike.
Political analyst Otis Sanford says increases in fees come at the same time MLGW is seeking approval to increase its rates, promising future tension over the cost of utilities in a city with a 25 percent poverty rate.
