Memphis city councilman to propose $30 million increase to budget, half for police salaries

The budget chairman for the Memphis City Council has plans to propose a large increase to the city’s budget, funding that, if approved, will predominantly go toward increasing pay for police officers.

Councilman Chase Carlisle first mentioned his upcoming proposal Tuesday, saying an additional $30 million should be worked into the city’s budget for fiscal year 2024.

In his proposal, $15 million would go to police salaries, Carlisle said, $5 million annually for the city’s affordable housing fund, $5 million annually for the Memphis Area Transit Authority and $5 million for youth services, including through libraries, community centers and parks.

Carlisle made his remarks during a conversation on specialized units in the Memphis Police Department. As MPD leadership discussed the more than 30 specialized units, council members discussed the need to recruit more officers, lamenting how difficult it has become to hire.

“If you wanna be competitive in a marketplace … at the end of the day it all comes down to money, full stop,” Carlisle said.

Carlisle did not immediately propose a funding source for the $30 million increase, but said, “If it takes a revenue increase, then that’s what it’s gonna take.”

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland is slated to present his proposed budget to the council in late April.

Katherine Burgess covers government and religion. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter @kathsburgess.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis City Councilman to propose $30 million budget increase