Pickler to discuss plan to tax surburbs for Memphis Schools

Shelby County School Board Chair David Pickler is scheduled to visit with the Lakeland Board of Commissioners at the BOC Work Session at 6:30 p.m., Monday, July 27, 2009 at Lakeland City Hall.

The Shelby County Commission recently adopted a recommendation that will result in Lakeland property taxes increasing from 26% to 40% solely to support Memphis City Schools.

This means if your current taxes are $2,000 per year, you could pay as much as $800 more per year solely due to the action by the Shelby County Commission. This is in addition to increased assessments of suburban areas by the County.

The "Plan" was adopted by an "Ad Hoc Committee" (meaning "self appointed") that held meetings without notifying suburban cities and did not involve suburban cities until after the plan was basically approved, in spite of the fact that the "Plan" targeted suburban cities for substantially increased taxes.

Pickler will discuss the impact of the proposed tax on suburban areas.

All residents and interested residents are welcome to attend the meeting and hear the presentation and how to protest this plan to increase taxes without any resulting additional services.