NewsSTAND · Local & National News · June 3, 2026
CRISIS: Local Public Revenue
Pictured above: Al Bright, EDGE Chair (2011-Present) and Commissioner Mickell Lowery, Commission Economic Chair (2020-Present)
I’m predicting a fake, chump azz County Mayor’s election. Fake because, I don’t believe the #1 issue in the local public revenue crisis will be addressed as such. I don’t think Republican John Deberry will press the issue against Democrat Mickell Lowery of an economically driven local public revenue crisis, nor do I believe the local media will press the issue.
Anyway, above is the compiled data, sourced from Bureau of Labor Statistics, with the County peer group hosting the following cities: Birmingham, Indianapolis, Louisville, New Orleans, Kansas City, St Louis County, St Louis City, Oklahoma City, Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville and Milwaukee.
The consequence of this economically driven public revenue crisis is well over $100M per year.
The above data through calendar year 2025, does not include these 2026 job layoff WARN notices: IKEA-114, PMC-172, GXO-185 and Nike-583. Al Bright has Chaired the EDGE Board since 2011 and the FedEx employed Commissioner Mickell Lowery has chaired the County Commission Economic Development Committee 2020-present.
Below are some data points from the above table data that support an economically driven public revenue crisis:
Memphis/Shelby is effectively operating at employment levels when EDGE began in 2010 further irritated by approximately 1 billion in abated taxes to increase employed jobs.
Since 2019 Memphis/Shelby has lost 32,571 employed jobs. This job loss outstrips population loss over the period, further signaling a structural public workforce development crisis.
Since 2019, Memphis/Shelby ranks last in the peer group in total wage growth, with percentage total wage growth less than inflation over the period.
The above will result in a economically driven public revenue crisis in any city. Too bad local leaders are not focused on this costly public issue.
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