GOP Commissioner Provides Swing Vote for Property Tax Increase in Shelby Co., TN

Memphis, TN, Commercial Appeal ^ | 07-08-03 | Fontenay, Blake

[Theodore R.]

GOP bashes Moss for tax hike By Blake Fontenay fontenay@gomemphis.com July 9, 2003

A day after providing a critical swing vote for a 25-cent property tax rate increase, Shelby County Commissioner Tom Moss continued taking hits from his political party's leaders.

Moss, a Republican, joined the commission's six Democrats in supporting the increase on the second of three required readings Monday. The six other Republican commissioners opposed it.

That fact has some prominent Republicans already predicting that Moss will draw an opponent from within his party if he runs for re-election.

Meanwhile, Moss found himself answering conflict-of-interest questions from local media about property he owns that is potentially within the boundaries of a new high school planned for Arlington.

Moss struck a deal last week to support the tax increase in exchange for support from some of his colleagues for a 5-cent tax increase levied against non-Memphis residents to pay for the new school. That measure was approved 8-5 on second reading Monday.

While denying a conflict, Moss speculated information about his land holdings was leaked as part of an effort to discredit him.

"It's just Memphis politics as usual," Moss said. "I have no doubt it was politically motivated."

Shelby County Probate Court Clerk Chris Thomas, a Republican, said the school-financing plan had enough bipartisan support that Moss could have held out for a lower overall tax rate.

"There are a lot of Republicans who feel he (Moss) has sold out to the other side,'' Thomas said. "I think he's going have a strong opponent if he runs for re-election. To me, he needs to be held accountable. On the County Commission, we have a Republican majority but we sometimes don't act like it."

Thomas and Shelby County Register Tom Leatherwood also were upset by some comments Moss made last week about the budget situation.

Moss said the county's constitutional officers are responsible for some expenses that cannot or should not be cut. Because Republicans hold most of those offices, some interpreted Moss as trying to shift blame for the tax increase away from the commission.

"My office runs completely on fees generated by our customers,'' said Leatherwood, another Republican. "We don't use any tax money and our office gives the county a surplus each year."

Nevertheless, Thomas and Leatherwood said the proposed tax increase is too high and probably could be reduced by cutting nonessential spending in county government.

"The process of really digging into the budget has been cut off at the knees,'' Leatherwood said, noting that commissioners had halted a comprehensive review of each department's budget. "That, while being a grueling process, is something that needs to be done."

Meanwhile, Moss, a developer, acknowledged that he owns about 22 lots in the Cordova Ridge subdivision, which one day might be within the Arlington high school's attendance zone. The prospect of a new school could make that property more valuable.

Moss said he plans to sell those lots by next summer - before the school's expected opening in two or three years.

Anyway, Moss said the subdivision is about three times closer to Houston High School than the site of the planned Arlington school.

"Frankly, when it comes to setting the attendance zones, I would be lobbying for those kids to go to Houston because it's a much shorter drive," Moss said.

Maura Black, supervisor of research and planning for the county school system, said the Cordova Ridge students aren't likely to become part of Houston's zone due to crowded conditions at that high school. One reason the Arlington school is needed is to help relieve crowding at Houston.

Black said Cordova Ridge most likely will be part of the Arlington zone, unless the city school system agrees to absorb those youths into the Cordova High School zone.

Brian Kuhn, an assistant county attorney, said he has not been asked to investigate a potential conflict.

- Blake Fontenay: 529-2386

[Theodore R.]

On the County Commission, we have a Republican majority but we sometimes don't act like it."

How many times has this scenario played out elsewhere too? Republicans with majorities cannot deliver with such defectors.

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[fieldmarshaldj]

"How many times has this scenario played out elsewhere too? Republicans with majorities cannot deliver with such defectors."

Quite true. Unfortunately, we've got quite a large number of weak-kneed RINO idiots here in Tennessee. This cretin is vintage Scumquist.

[GailA]

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