Shelby County Commission restores cuts to FY26 budget, approves amendment 8-1-2

The Shelby County Commission on June 23, 2025 amended its fiscal year 2026 operating budget to restore previously approved reductions and adjust funding sources, approving the measure 8–1–2.

The amendment, offered by Commissioner Amber Mills and seconded by Commissioner Ford, restores $21,895,746 in budget reductions adopted on June 23, 2025, removes $12,232,787.69 in new mayoral spending proposed for FY26, removes what the commission characterized as a duplicative $6,487,586 allocation to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office for a 3% raise and minimum salary, and increases countywide vacancy savings by $5,389,219. The clerk recorded 8 ayes (Commissioners Clay Bivs, Sugarman, Mills, Wright, Brooks, Lowry, Avant and Chairman Michael Whaley), 1 no (Commissioner Caswell) and 2 abstentions (Commissioners Ford and Thornton).

Why it matters: commissioners and several elected officials said the changes affect courthouse operations, elected officers’ offices, and public safety staffing. Multiple clerks and court officers told the commission they lacked clear written exhibits showing how the amendments would affect their offices and asked for specifics before and after the vote.

Commissioners debated how to balance restoration of cuts with other FY26 changes. Commissioner Mills’ on-floor amendment blended three offsets: reducing the mayor’s proposed additional FY26 spending by $12,232,787.69, eliminating the duplicate sheriff allocation of $6,487,586, and increasing vacancy savings by $5,389,219. Audrey Tipton, Director of Administration and Finance, provided the vacancy-savings figure: “The vacancy savings number will be $5,389,219.”

Finance and administration staff also discussed the mayor’s maintenance of effort (MOE) for the administration. Deputy CFO Michael Thompson said the MOE “has not increased” compared with FY25, while explaining that systemwide pay adjustments (a 3% raise and a $40,500 minimum salary approved by the commission) raise department budgets and require consolidated accounting before a final MOE figure for FY26 can be distributed. Thompson told commissioners he would provide the consolidated MOE figures by email after the amendment was reduced to writing.

Several elected officials described concrete impacts if cuts were left in place. Judge Tarek Sugarman, identifying himself as a Supreme Court judge in Shelby County, urged additional magistrate funding for court capacity and said, “If we have those 3 positions funded, it'll cost the county about $713,564 dollars and 88¢.” General Sessions Clerk Tammy Sawyer and other clerks described steep operating reductions: Sawyer said earlier versions of the amendment would have cut roughly $560,000 from her office and that the revised plan reduced that to about $91,000; she asked the commission to consider follow-up requests after the fiscal year begins.

Sheriff’s Office representatives and their chief administrative officer, Alicia Lindsey, said department totals posted in multiple mayoral budget iterations remained consistent and requested an exhibit listing the consolidated general fund and departmental breakdowns so elected officials could see the net effect of the commission’s changes. Lindsey noted the sheriff’s net budget as presented in the mayor’s materials was about $204 million and referenced account 5102 (payroll) as $137,773,899 in FY26 before other adjustments.

Public commenters raised transparency and Open Meetings Act concerns about notice and distribution of exhibits; members of the public and several elected officers asked that the final amendment language and supporting Exhibit A be provided in writing. The commission complied on the floor: the amendment was reduced to writing and read into the record before the final vote. Commissioners also noted that offices impacted by the amendment may return with budget modification requests after the fiscal year begins; the chair said commissioners would reconvene July 28, 2025, to resume matters.

The amendment was accepted without objection when reduced to writing and then approved in the recorded vote. The commission directed staff to provide the consolidated exhibits and MOE figures to commissioners and affected elected officials following the meeting.