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How MemphisHow MemphisHow MemphisHow Memphis solve solve solve solve

our financial our financial our financial our financial woeswoeswoeswoes By Stanley Green

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How Memphis solve our financial woesHow Memphis solve our financial woesHow Memphis solve our financial woesHow Memphis solve our financial woes City of Memphis has been stricken with a plague of the Blue

Flu and Red Rash. Hundreds of police and firefighters have

called in sick to protest their health benefits and retirement

pensions being cut short. In addition the city owes Shelby

County School Board 57 million dollars. The only solution

has been to raise taxes. Well raising taxes is the wrong

answer. The smart answer is Memphis should withdraw

emergency funds from its revenue producing public utility

company to solve our financial woes.

Memphis Light Gas & WaterMemphis Light Gas & WaterMemphis Light Gas & WaterMemphis Light Gas & Water Memphis Light Gas & Water Public Utility Company (MLGW)

produces a billion dollar annual revenue. City of Memphis’

taxpayers own MLGW, but private shareholders have been

reaping all the profits. As a result, the City of Memphis has been

officially ranked among the poorest cities in the United States.

This means that MLGW has not shared sufficient profits with the

City of Memphis. If such were true, Memphis would become

ranked as the most prosperous growing city in America. The

latter would eliminate need of raising taxes to pay our debt.

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MLGW 2013 Annual ReportMLGW 2013 Annual ReportMLGW 2013 Annual ReportMLGW 2013 Annual Report MLGW 2013 Annual Report has been published online opened for

public inspection. Each financial figure has been recorded in

thousands. What thousands mean is we have to add three zeroes

(000) to whatever figure has been shown to acquire the exact

amount. For example: A figure such as 343 equals to three hundred

forty three thousand dollars ($343,000). Whereas, a figure of

343,000 equals to three hundred forty three million dollars

($343,000,000). MLGW furnishes utilities to seven (7) different cities

to include: City of Memphis, Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville,

Germantown, Lakeland, Millington, and other rural areas.

Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C.Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C.Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C.Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. (MHM) is the certified public

accountant (CPA) firm that has audited City of Memphis Light

Gas & Water Public Utility Company. 2013 Annual Report.

According to MHM, MLGW has taken in nearly one and a half

billion dollars. What percentage of this amount is profit and

how much has gone to the City of Memphis to pay our bills? If

City of Memphis is the primary stock holder, then the 2013

Annual Report should reflect Memphis as the principal

beneficiary to reap whatever profits have been made.

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2013 Electric Operating Statistics by Town2013 Electric Operating Statistics by Town2013 Electric Operating Statistics by Town2013 Electric Operating Statistics by Town This chart is a graphic illustration of MLGW’s 2013 Electric

Division operating statistics by town. Each town has been

assigned a specific color. The chart has been divided into pie

slices. The City of Memphis reflects about seventy five (75)

percent of the total pie. The total amount MLGW has taken in

was one billion two hundred forty six million eighty one

thousand dollars ($1,246,081,000). The latter figure doesn’t

include the Gas and Water Division shown on different charts.

2013 Statistical Highlights 2013 Statistical Highlights 2013 Statistical Highlights 2013 Statistical Highlights ---- Electric DivisionElectric DivisionElectric DivisionElectric Division 2013 Statistical Highlights – Electric Division is a breakdown listed

as follows: Residential, Commercial General Services, Industrial,

Outdoor lighting and Traffic Signals, Interdepartmental, Green

Power, Miscellaneous, Accrued Unbilled Revenue, Revenue

Adjustment for Uncollectibles. The total operating revenue is

reflected in the exact amount of one billion two hundred forty six

million eighty thousand six hundred ninety two dollars

($1,246,080,692). In other words MLGW’s Electric Division is a

billion dollar operation in itself. How much of this billion dollar

revenue is generated for the City of Memphis to pay its bills?

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2013 Gas Operating Statistics2013 Gas Operating Statistics2013 Gas Operating Statistics2013 Gas Operating Statistics by Townby Townby Townby Town This chart is a graphic illustration of MLGW’s 2013 Gas Division

operating statistics by town. Each town has been assigned a

specific color. The chart has been divided into pie slices. The

City of Memphis reflects about seventy five (75) percent of the

total pie. The total amount MLGW has taken in was two

hundred eighty four million six hundred sixteen thousand

dollars ($284,616,000). The Gas Division’s revenue doesn’t

come anywhere near close to MLGW’s Electric Division.

2013 Statistical Highlights 2013 Statistical Highlights 2013 Statistical Highlights 2013 Statistical Highlights –––– Gas Gas Gas Gas DivisionDivisionDivisionDivision 2013 Statistical Highlights – Electric Division is a breakdown listed as

follows: Residential, Commercial General Services, Industrial, Outdoor

lighting and Traffic Signals, Interdepartmental, Green Power,

Miscellaneous, Accrued Unbilled Revenue, Revenue Adjustment for

Uncollectibles. The total operating revenue is reflected in the exact

amount of two hundred eighty four million six hundred fifteen thousand

nine hundred seventy dollars ($284,615,970). MLGW’s Gas Division is a

mega million dollar revenue producing industry that takes in a billion

dollars less than the total amount compared to the Electric Division.

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2013 Water Operating Statistics by Town2013 Water Operating Statistics by Town2013 Water Operating Statistics by Town2013 Water Operating Statistics by Town This chart is a graphic illustration of MLGW’s 2013 Gas Division operating

statistics by town. Each town has been assigned a specific color. The

chart has been divided into pie slices. The City of Memphis reflects about

seventy five (75) percent of the total pie. The total amount MLGW has

taken in was two hundred eighty four million six hundred sixteen

thousand dollars ($284,616,000). The Gas Division’s revenue doesn’t

compare anywhere near close to MLGW’s Electric Division.

2013 Statistical Highlights 2013 Statistical Highlights 2013 Statistical Highlights 2013 Statistical Highlights –––– Water Water Water Water DivisionDivisionDivisionDivision 2013 Statistical Highlights – Water Division is a breakdown listed as

follows: Residential, Commercial General Services, Industrial,

Outdoor lighting and Traffic Signals, Interdepartmental, Green

Power, Miscellaneous, Accrued Unbilled Revenue, Revenue

Adjustment for Uncollectibles. The total operating revenue is

reflected in the exact amount of eighty four million seven hundred

eighty thousand one hundred fifty three dollars ($84,780,153).

MLGW’s Gas Division is the least revenue producing industry.

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TTTThe he he he smart thing to dsmart thing to dsmart thing to dsmart thing to doooo The smart thing Memphis could do is reallocate funds from MLGW to

finance City of Memphis’ expenditures. MLGW generates one and a

half billion dollars revenue each year. Private shareholders have

reaped majority of the profits leaving the City of Memphis broke. I

have lived in Memphis all of my life. One thing I have discovered is

that public officials don’t believe in making smart decisions. Instead,

decisions have been made as knee jerk reactions that never make any

sense. My idea makes better sense because it avoids raising taxes.

Memphis police director: Memphis police director: Memphis police director: Memphis police director: ““““WeWeWeWe’’’’re in crisis re in crisis re in crisis re in crisis

modemodemodemode”””” as sickas sickas sickas sick----out growsout growsout growsout grows Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong has issued a public

announcement about police officers calling in sick (i.e. Blue Flu) to

protest Memphis City Council and Mayor A C Wharton, Jr. voting in

favor of cutting health benefits. Memphis police force is made up

of 2,200 members. Five hundred twenty two (522) officers have

called in sick. This is nearly one fourth of our total police force.

Memphis City Firefighters have called in sick as well suffering ‘Red

Rash’. The protests have endangered our public safety.