Smart growth is not achieved by annexing suburbs into the city, but by revitalizing the inner city, Memphis Mayor A C Wharton said Monday in his keynote address to the Louisiana Smart Growth Summit, hosted by the Center for Planning Excellence at the Shaw Center.
When Daily Report asked Wharton to compare Memphis’ history of annexations to Baton Rouge’s current rift with those behind an effort to incorporate a new city of St. George from unincorporated portions of the parish, Wharton advised both parties to tread lightly.
Wharton says Baton Rouge could incur unexpected costs in having to provide more services to outlying areas, as could St. George. Wharton says breakaway school districts in Memphis were willing to tax themselves more for education, but were unaware how quickly costs would escalate.
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