Memphis Nonprofits Call for 'Moral Budget' with Tax Hike, Social Investment

Coalition says city must raise taxes and fund social programs to curb crime and population decline.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 2:55am

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A serene, cinematic painting of an empty park bench in a Memphis neighborhood, with warm sunlight and deep shadows creating a contemplative mood around the solitary urban scene.A pensive moment in a Memphis neighborhood, where calls for increased social investment aim to address longstanding challenges.Memphis Today

A coalition of Memphis nonprofits has presented a 'Moral Budget' proposal calling on city and county officials to raise taxes and invest more in social programs like affordable housing, youth mental health, and violence prevention. The group argues that increased funding for these areas will ultimately reduce the need for a massive police budget.

Why it matters

Memphis has struggled with high crime rates, a shortage of affordable housing, and population decline, especially among young people. The Moral Budget Coalition believes that investing in social services and community programs is a more effective long-term solution than relying heavily on law enforcement.

The details

The Moral Budget Coalition, made up of several local nonprofits, unveiled its proposal just before Memphis Mayor Paul Young was set to present the city's nearly $900 million budget for fiscal year 2026. The coalition is calling for a tax increase to fund initiatives like building 40,000 units of affordable housing, expanding youth mental health programs, and supporting violence prevention efforts. They argue that stabilizing communities and investing in residents, especially young people, will ultimately reduce the need for a massive police budget.

  • On April 13, 2026, the Moral Budget Coalition presented its proposal.
  • Memphis Mayor Paul Young is set to present the city's $900 million budget for fiscal year 2026.

The players

Moral Budget Coalition

A coalition of Memphis-based nonprofit organizations calling for increased social investment and a tax hike to fund programs like affordable housing and youth mental health.

Paul Young

The mayor of Memphis who is set to present the city's nearly $900 million budget for fiscal year 2026.

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What they’re saying

“The budget really shows where your heart is.”

— K Durell Cowan, CEO of Heal 901

“It's asinine to see the amount of needs that we have and the little support that comes from our local government.”

— K Durell Cowan, CEO of Heal 901

“When you stabilize properties, eliminate blight, activate vacant lots, bring responsible ownership back into communities, you disrupt the very conditions that allow crime to take root.”

— Rasheedah Jones, with the Alliance for Housing Progress

“Almost every suburban government in Shelby County has made a different choice, and last year, raising tax rates to invest in services, support workers and improve quality of life. Memphis and Shelby County, it's time for us to do the same.”

— Amaree Austin, with The Collective Blueprint

“Over time, we'll have less and less money, and our budget is going to go down and down and down because youth are leaving and going to other cities because they feel that this city isn't a good city, this county isn't a good county, and they're just gonna leave.”

— Marc Williams, with the Shelby County Youth Council

What’s next

The Memphis City Council will review and vote on the proposed budget presented by Mayor Paul Young in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

The Moral Budget Coalition's proposal highlights the growing divide between the city's funding priorities and the needs of its residents. By calling for increased investment in social services and community programs, the coalition hopes to shift the focus away from a heavy reliance on law enforcement and towards more holistic, preventative solutions to the city's challenges.