City council votes against healthcare benefits for former members

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - The Memphis City Council shot down an initiative that would give former city council members healthcare benefits paid for in part by Memphis taxpayers.

The ordinance would have given the benefits to former city council members, dating back to January 2015, who served two terms without misconduct issues.

The city’s chief human resources director said the proposal would have cost former council members about $7,800 a year for single coverage, with 70% to 75% of that paid by taxpayers, depending on the year. The rest would be paid by the former council member.

The controversial initiative had much opposition, with the vote being rescheduled multiple times.

“If we had every pothole filled, all our streets paved, and all our garbage picked up and all our lights working and we also had crime down and we had budget surplus and we’ve given every employee that retired that same benefit, then I think we should vote it for ourselves. But I think at this point it doesn’t make much sense for us to do this,” Councilman Dr. Jeff Warren said.

Mary Phebus and Melissa Renard came to Tuesday’s council meeting to urge council members to say “NO.”

“We were so happy, because that goes to show you that your voice does matter,” said Phebus.

“As an individual that lives in this city, pays taxes and I can’t even afford my own insurance,” said Renard, “I absolutely thought it was unacceptable.”

Renard drives a forklift at a local warehouse and says she took the day off work to be at Tuesday’s meeting.

Council members voted 0-11-1 Tuesday, making the ordinance null and void.

Councilman Edmund Ford Sr. abstained from the vote and Councilwoman Pearl Eva Walker, who did not vote, pointed to “misinformation” from media reports and wanted to delay to vote until August.

“We did not receive all the facts and correct information surrounding this,” said Councilwoman Eva Walker.

The ordinance, proposed by former Council Chairman Martavius Jones, has been in front of the new council since they were sworn in, but never explicitly stated that benefits would end after a former council member turned 65.

Jones also blamed media reports for “inaccurate information” surrounding the ordinance.

He says 60 members would have been able to opt in from now until 2060.

The city’s Chief HR director also told city leaders Nashville is the only city she could find that had similar legislation for its council.

Nashville’s Metro Council got rid of their legislation, as costs increased up to $1.2 million.

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