Shelby County ad hoc committee plans countywide public meetings, seeks reauthorization; trustee reports 509 pilots

At a meeting of the Shelby County Powers Ad Hoc Committee, members finalized plans for countywide community engagement events, discussed a strategic timeline to deliver recommendations to the county commission and sought reauthorization of the ad hoc committee after the arrival of a new commission chair.

The meeting also included an update from Regina Newman, Shelby County trustee, who said, “As of today, there are 509 pilots. We believe there are 3 pending,” and reported a 2024 county tax-abatement figure presented in the meeting as $43,181,473 (figure cited from the trustee’s report in the meeting packet).

Why it matters: The committee’s authority expired at the end of August under the county’s rules; without prompt reauthorization the panel could not act officially, which would affect its ability to schedule and run county-sponsored public events, finalize legal review and submit the committee’s recommendations to the commission. The committee is developing recommendations intended to standardize oversight and reporting for pilot programs across agencies and to educate the public about where pilots exist and how they operate.

Committee reauthorization and legal guidance Assistant County Attorney Lisa Overall told the group that the county’s permanent rules of order provide that "ad hoc committees do expire annually on August 31," and that the chair "may, without necessity of action by the county commission, form and abolish the ad hoc committees." Overall said the chair could issue a written reauthorization beginning Sept. 1. The committee agreed to seek that written authorization so work could continue with minimal delay.

Timeline and public meetings Committee members affirmed a timeline that calls for submitting final recommendations to the county commission in November. Members set two community engagement events as part of the outreach plan: Sept. 20 and Oct. 11. The committee struck one previously listed venue (Pursuit of God Church) and replaced it with the Teacher Learning Academy on Union; the group also plans a meeting at Grier Chapel in the north part of the county. Members discussed producing a concise flyer for distribution at churches and community centers and agreed to seek partners, including outreach to a community group referred to as Micah.

Commissioner Janice Banks emphasized public education for the events: "I envision we would explain the law, but the law states employment, housing, education, things that are for community benefit," and suggested handouts and maps showing where pilots currently exist and which neighborhoods have a concentration of pilot projects.

Draft recommendations and follow-up Members reviewed a working packet of recommendations and asked colleagues to submit edits by Sept. 1. Professor Austin Harrison and other members said they would tighten language on oversight, reporting and enforcement mechanisms and suggested creating a third-party or independent oversight mechanism rather than relying solely on agencies or developers to police pilots.

Trustee financial update Regina Newman, Shelby County trustee, presented the latest figures available in the trustee’s packet and said the most recent financial analysis in the file is the 2024 report; she explained the office will not produce another full financial analysis until the end of the tax year (Dec. 31). Newman also said the trustee’s office maintains a table of county tax abatements tied to pilots and that municipal abatements (for example in Millington, Bartlett, Arlington and other municipalities) are handled by those jurisdictions and are not compiled in the trustee’s county-level table.

Minutes approved The committee approved minutes from the July 17 meeting following a motion by member Austin Harrison and a second by the chair; no formal roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript excerpt.

What’s next Members said they will seek the chair’s written reauthorization beginning Sept. 1, distribute a draft flyer by Aug. 30–Sept. 1 for church announcements and community distribution, collect public input at the Sept. 20 and Oct. 11 meetings, incorporate public comments and return to committee review on Oct. 16 before finalizing recommendations for legal review and submission to the county commission in November.