U of M: One Step Closer
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The University of Memphis is one step closer to calling Jackson home. Saturday, the state senate passed Governor Bill Haslam’s budget, which means at least five million dollars is now locked in to get the campus up and running in the Hub City. It is a battle cry that can be heard in downtown Jackson, as residents raise their glasses to local and state government officials. Senator Lowe Finney actually stepped out of the senate chambers Saturday to call and talk to Jackson residents. Finney, adds, “The state senate has passed the budget, and as you saw, it passed unanimously. In that budget is the first part of funding for the University of Memphis to do their work on the campus.” $5 million has been officially approved for the first year of operation if local stakeholders and Lambuth’s Board of Trustee’s can negotiate a price for the school, and that Mayor Jerry Gist, says, is their last hurdle. Mayor Gist, adds, “Next, is our local group will be meeting Monday morning to talk about where we are and what we need to do.” $5.9 million is the offer that is still on the table for Lambuth’s Board of Trustee’s to approve, and now that the senate passed the budget, Mayor Gist, says, he expects a counter offer Monday morning. Mayor Gist, adds, “I think things will move now, now that this is done, and the Board of Trustees will act and we’ll certainly act as far as the local stakeholders.” Supporters say they will rally for as long as it takes to strike a deal. Jenci Spradlin, a resident, says, “This is certainly a big hurdle, and it’s an exciting hurdle to get through, but it’s certainly not finished at this point.” But uncertainty will not let them down on this day. The $5 million approved Saturday is only part of Governor Haslam’s plan to spend a total of $11 million to help the University of Memphis set up in Jackson. Lambuth says it would like to get $10 million for the property, officials say that is enough to cover all the schools outstanding debt.
