By Commissioner Erika Sugarmon

Hello, Memphis! Welcome back to Erika Sugarmon Unfiltered.

Today, we are talking about something that affects absolutely every single one of us: our money. When you write that check for your property taxes, you probably ask yourself, “What in the world do they do with all this money?” To answer that, I brought in the absolute best person for the job: Regina Morrison Newman, our Shelby County Trustee. We call her the "Banker of the County," and for good reason. She wears a lot of hats, runs incredible programs, and ensures our county's financial engine keeps running smoothly.

Let's get unfiltered about where your money goes, how it's collected, and how Regina is fighting to keep more of it in your pocket.

The County's Banker: Where Does the Money Go?

As the County's Banker, Regina's office has a massive responsibility. Her office bills and collects property taxes and PILOTS, which serve as the primary source of County revenue. How much are we talking about? Over $900 million annually!

To give you an idea of the sheer volume, as of the March 12, 2026 cash basis accounting report, the Year to Date Collections for total property tax had already reached a massive $855,321,935!

But the Trustee doesn't decide how to spend it—the County Commission does. Once the money comes in, Regina's office allocates the property taxes based on the tax rate distribution determined by the County Commission. For the FY2025-2026 budget, those property tax allocations are broken down like this:

• The General Fund (which pays for things like the health department, the sheriff's office, and courts) receives 44.61%.
• Education gets a massive slice of the pie, receiving 44.24%. The Trustee actually transfers these education dollars to the Shelby School Systems based on Weighted Full Time Average Daily Attendance (WFTEADA).
• Debt Service takes up the remaining 11.15%.

Doing the Work: Record-Breaking Collections

Regina has a background in collections, and it shows. When she came into office, she made it her mission to reduce back taxes and get the county's collections on track. And the receipts don't lie!

If we look at the historical collection percentage of all tax types billed as of June 30 each year, you can see the incredible progress.

• In the 2011/2012 year, collections sat at 94.23%.
• Under Regina's leadership, collections reached a peak of 97.64% in 2020/2021.
• Most recently, the collection percentage for all types in FY2025 remained incredibly strong at 97.28%.

Because of this hard work, she has reduced the back taxes owed to the county by over $23 million since 2018. If you fall behind, her office will work with you. They have set up more payment plans to keep people in their homes than ever before.

The Unfiltered Truth on PILOTs and TIFs

We also had a very candid discussion about PILOTs (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) and TIFs (Tax Increment Financing).

Right now, Shelby County has over 500 PILOT contracts in place. These are tax breaks given to companies and developers by various boards. How much does this impact the county? According to the Trustee's data, PILOTS caused a reduction to the tax roll of $43.2 million in Tax Year 2024/FY2025 alone! Furthermore, TIF payouts were estimated at $10.3 million for FY2026.

My issue with PILOTs is that some of these corporations get massive tax breaks but still refuse to pay their employees a living wage. Meanwhile, if everyday citizens don't pay their taxes, they face severe consequences. Thankfully, Regina monitors this closely. In fact, her office tracks 25% Debt Service (PILOT - In Lieu of Tax), which had year-to-date collections of $9,251,063 in early March 2026. If a company defaults on their PILOT agreement, Regina is perfectly willing to take them to court to get that property back on the tax rolls.

Empowering the Community

What I love most about Regina is that she isn't just collecting money; she is educating our community on how to build and protect wealth.

• Greater Memphis Financial Empowerment Center: This incredible grant-funded program offers free one-on-one financial counseling. So far, clients have paid off over $7.4 million in non-mortgage debt, opened bank accounts, and raised their credit scores.
• Wallet Warnings: Because Shelby County citizens are frequently targeted by scammers, Regina's office sends out monthly alerts to educate the public on everything from child identity theft to home repair scams.
• Adulting 101: This showcase invites high school seniors from across the county to learn how to open a checking account, avoid bad credit, and explore high-paying careers in the trades that don't require massive college debt.
• Tax Relief & Freeze Programs: If you are a senior citizen (65 and older), a disabled citizen, or a disabled veteran, you must look into the tax freeze and tax relief programs. Thanks to Regina twisting some arms (and the Commission doing our part!), the income limit for the senior tax freeze has been raised to $61,920.

Regina Morrison Newman has been a phenomenal banker for Shelby County, and she leaves behind a legacy of transparency, efficiency, and genuine care for the taxpayers.

Stay engaged, pay your taxes, and stay unfiltered!