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Downtown Memphis Commission urges steady budget, expands clean-and-safe contract to boost downtown recovery
Summary
The Downtown Memphis Commission presented its FY26 operating budget and a $2.9 million contract for a 40-person Clean/Green/Safety team, stressing beautification, safety and incentives as tools to spur private development in the downtown core.
Shandell Ryan, president and CEO of the Downtown Memphis Commission, told the Memphis City Council at a budget wrap-up hearing that DMC’s FY26 spending plan aims to accelerate downtown recovery by investing in public safety, cleanliness and hospitality. "The quickest way to change people's experiences is by having beautification on steroids," Ryan said, summarizing the agency’s approach to drawing visitors and businesses back to the core.
The DMC said its FY26 budget will rely primarily on a downtown commercial-property assessment (the CBID/CBIT assessment) and additional grants and transfers; Ryan said the assessment is expected to generate about $4.7 million and that total FY26 revenues for DMC are projected at roughly $5.9 million. The board also presented audited financial records and an organizational overview of four affiliated entities that handle incentives, financing and parking operations.
Nut graf: DMC officials told council members the agency is using a mix of…
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