Memphis council approves multiple funding moves, authorizes up to $60 million in stormwater bonds
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Summary
On Jan. 13, 2026, the Memphis City Council unanimously approved a slate of capital, grant and budget measures — including reallocations of Accelerate Memphis funds, park project allocations and an initial authorization for up to $60 million in stormwater system revenue bonds — and granted same-night minutes for several items.
The Memphis City Council on Jan. 13 approved a bundle of budget and capital measures affecting parks, drainage, public safety and utilities, and authorized the sale of stormwater system revenue bonds in an amount not to exceed $60 million.
Vice Chair Carlisle moved the fiscal consent and related items; the motions carried on roll-call votes with all present council members voting yes. Major approvals included an initial resolution authorizing stormwater system revenue bonds up to $60,000,000 and a follow-on series resolution delegating details to the city CFO and approving the form of the official statement. Councilman Canale presented the committee recommendation on the bond items before the votes.
Council members also approved reallocation and appropriation measures: $4,454,265.86 in Accelerate Memphis funds for acquisition and program management related to Project 30A1401; $2,500,000 for the Chelsea Avenue green line (PW01255) with $944,424 from Memphis Parks Capital Reserve and $1,555,576 from Southeastern Industrial Road Improvements to replace removed Accelerate funds; a $2,183,689.86 reallocation from Chelsea green line into 10 Memphis parks projects that must meet an Accelerate Memphis expenditure deadline of June 30, 2026; and smaller park and drainage transfers, including $730,100.44 to four parks projects and $276,103.30 to Lillian Drainage Improvements (ST03245).
Appropriations for public-safety facilities included $1,500,000 in FYCIP funding for the Mount Moriah Police Station (PD02016) and a $1,000,000 FY2026 CIP appropriation for Phase 2 of the Downtown Command Center (IT01008), which was transferred from IT Services to Police Services. The council also approved capital program funding-source adjustments for multiple sewer projects and an amendment to the task force on city employee compensation, moving a deliverable deadline from March to April and requesting additional Human Resources documentation.
Administrative and procurement items on the MLGW fiscal consent list — including a $916,000 joint funding agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey, hardware and software contracts, and temporary staffing contracts — were included in the consent vote and passed.
Next steps: Bond issuance and related financing actions require administrative follow-through by the CFO and the city’s finance staff as authorized by the council’s series resolution; capital project transfers and appropriations will proceed under the departments and project managers named in each resolution.
