Mayor-elect A C Wharton and his closest advisors definitely believe the resounding victory in Thursday's special election represents a mandate for governing, but they face some massive challenges from the moment Wharton resigns as county mayor and becomes Memphis' mayor on Oct. 26 (next Monday). Nothing looms larger than the budget and nothing is more pivotal for city finances than the issue of Memphis City Schools funding.
We took a look in Sunday's paper at some of the biggest issues facing Wharton and his team after they take office.
"No honeymoon," Wharton says.
On the budget, Wharton said he intends to make all sides on this complicated issue see past the short-term skirmishes to find agreement on feasible long-term partnerships.
From the Sunday story:
"I am optimistic we will be able to reach some accord that does not bring financial jeopardy to either the city or the school system," Wharton said.
But even if he brokers a school-funding solution, Wharton faces a 2010 budget process in which fiscal blood will be drawn. City Councilman Jim Strickland and City Council chairman Harold Collins have lamented the inability of the city and mayor to prevent further spending on nonschools' portions of the budget. But with a down economy, next year's budget will be a challenge.
"Going into the next year, we will have the same budget problems," said Strickland. "The economy is down, the city is losing population and the tax base is static at best. Under normal circumstances it would be a tough budget year."
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