Big Paper (Part I) Help Please!

Cosolidation in Memphis has been an ongoing issue. Consolidation is defined as bringing together separate parts into a single or unified whole; unite;strengthen. Memphis has been trying to consolidate the two government for some time now. However, there has been many set-backs and stumbling blocks along the way. The two sides have gone back and foward since the issue came about with the question, "Is consolidation the best thing for the city and surrounding areas?"

The two sides have very compelling arguements, but cannot come to compromise. Consolidationhas been attempted two times already. Both times this idea was shut. The City of Memphis would loveto consolidate and the majority always votes yes to consolidation. However, the County, on the other hand, has always shut the idea down. To overcome this, Mayor Herenton, the mayor of Memphis, is proposing a State Constitutional amendment that would eliminate having two separate consolidation
votes, one for Memphis residents and one for all residents outside the Memphis City limits. This would only require one election for all Shelby County residents. By the majority of Shelby County residents living in Memphis, Mayor Herenton is counting on them to vote in favor of consolidation, ensuring its passage. If the State Legislature approved a Constitutional amendment, all non-Memphis residents would still get a vote, but it would no longer have the same weight as it does now.

Recently both mayors, A. C. Wharton (county) and Willie Herenton (City) stated that consolidation is the way to go. Now it is up to the citizens who do not believe this at all. Although A. C. Wharton is pushing towards consolidation, his plans are a little different. He does not want to consolidate the school systems. This is one of the biggest issues that Memphis area citizens have. Shelby County
schools have recieved a passing grade on their school system for many years and are known to have a good school system. While Memphis City Schools have been labeled as underacheivers and have received failing grades recently. This greatly concerns county citizens. In order to keep the two school systems separate, A. C. Wharton is advocating a freeze on the district's boundaries through special school districts.

Although many county citizens do not want consolidation, Mayor A. C. Wharton thinks that it will save the county money. Wharton says that consolidation could save the county up to $20 million dollars a year. This money is much needed in the county considering the $14.5 million funding gap in next year's budget. Wharton also asked the county commission to consider "a hybrid version of a metro government." He says that the consolidation will help taxpayers more than it would hurt them in the long run. However,taxpayers still believe that they will have a tax increase regardless.

To understand what the road ahead will be like, the past must be considered. Consolidation has been considered in Tennessee over twenty times in over twelve different counties. It has only been accepted three times in twenty cases. All of these cases have been in Middle Tennessee. The government most like ours that has gone through the consolidation process is Knoxville and Knox County. This area
has rejected consolidation at least five times. They are still going through the consolidation process to this day. In the past couple of days, the Tennessee State Supreme Court made an important ruling in this area that could directly affect Shelby County. Knox county's government, which is structured much like Shelby
County's was ruled invalid. This means that there is only a matter of time before the county will be asked to appropriately define the responsibilities of the "constitutional" with specific chartered duties.