Principles, Issues and Positions

The Toyos Approach to Issues Coming Before the County Commission

1. See if County government can be less involved so citizens, taxpayers and voters can be empowered to do more for themselves.
2. Ensure that my public dialogue and votes are honest, transparent, and ethical and expect my commissioner friends to exhibit the same. This principle includes avoiding divisive conversation and encouraging my commissioner friends likewise.
3. Expect, demand and expose fiscal and programmatic accountability and responsibility from all county government elected officials and employees.
4. Make the best decisions possible regardless of the popularity of the decisions.

 

Issues and Positions

The MED.    

            The MED, Shelby County’s trauma hospital, burn and wound center, and neonatal /early childbirth care center, suffers multiple financial challenges. Clearly related to the expert care available at the MED is the fact that the MED is the principal teaching hospital for UTCHS.  Much is made about the care given Arkansas and Mississippi residents for which the MED is uncompensated and which care, by federal law, cannot be denied based on the patient’s residency.  However only 5% of the MED’s patient care costs go for out-of state patients. And Both Mississippi and Arkansas are now sending the MED monthly payments for uncompensated care. 

            Annually the State of Tennessee collects funds from the federal government for uncompensated care at the MED. For the latest fiscal year of the MED, Tennessee collected about $85 million for uncompensated care at the MED but sent the MED only $33 million. If we were to get 100% of the MED billings reimbursed by the feds, we would have the funds to pay for the debt service on a new public hospital. It is not fair to ask Shelby County taxpayers to pay for what the State is doing to the MED. If elected, he will become a doctor County Commissioner for the MED.

Dr. Toyos proposes that the County advocate the Tennessee Good Samaritan law be extended to any doctor, clinic, or hospital that gives free aid to the uninsured. This change would spread the care of the poor around the community and reduce the pressure on the MED to serve so many of the uninsured..

 

• Public Education.  Public education is a top priority. Dr. Toyos will support fair and equitable financing of the Memphis School District by the State of Tennessee. It appears that single source funding of the two local school systems would be good for the citizens of Memphis.
  
  Having taught high school in California, Dr. Toyos knows that not every child wants or needs a college degree. He suggests setting up different academies in different schools to provide, at the request and to meet the needs of local industry for new workers, additional elective courses to train those interested in a specific career. Students can learn valuable skills that area industries need for their workforces.

 

•  County Financial Condition. The County’s General Obligation bond debt was $1.628 billion on 7/1/2009, the end of our last fiscal year, and is scheduled to be at $1.528 billion on 7/1/2010. The property tax rate has increased in July, 2009 during a reappraisal year. He will not support property tax increases. He will suggest that the County to use zero base budgeting, not base line budgeting. Dr. Toyos support the County Mayor’s School Needs Assessment Committee whereby the Committee specifically identifies school capital needs and schedules them over a reasonable time frame.

     

• Economic Development.  The County’s economic base must grow.  This starts with supporting, retaining and recruiting employers whose pay scales raise our family incomes. Economic development includes new industrial and office developments and accompanying retail and residential developments and encouraging our critical health care and secondary education facilities to grow and prosper.   The newest economic activity that is able to create immediate and long term significant economic benefits is the Bio-Works zone in the medical center area.  The airport remains the most important public/private facility that produces economic benefits for the community and deserves County support.  The community’s major economic marketing and recruiting vehicle is the Chamber of Commerce and it has my support.

 

• Use of tax parcels by developers to develop rental housing. The economy and residential mortgage abuse by lenders have caused the County to become the owner of thousands of tax parcels because of the failure and inability of the owners to pay their taxes. These lots are sold or given to anyone who will build a home on them. While this policy works for many, it has been greatly abused by various developers. These developers have received 100’s of free parcels from Shelby County on which he has built rental homes. Most of their homes do not fit into the neighborhoods architecturally, have no garages or carports, and are poorly maintained causing neighborhoods and community development corporations to oppose them. Dr. Toyos will not support this type of intrusions into the neighborhoods of Hickory Hill.

• Smart Growth.  Dr Toyos also believes in applying ‘smart growth’ policies to Hickory Hill and other neighborhoods of Memphis. The County needs new developments, urban infill and redevelopments that will make our neighborhoods more livable.  Dr. Toyos supports projects like the reopening of Hickory Ridge Mall by the World Overcomer’s Church. He will support the new unified development code that will combine the current 25 year old City and County zoning and subdivision ordinances, as long as the new code supports long term economic development in every part of the County.

• Ethics of Public Officials.  I support the highest ethical standards for our elected officials and public employees. I do not support hiring or appointing relatives of elected officials to County positions. 

• Adult Oriented Businesses. As a father of a young daughter and small businessman , I know how these businesses prey on young women- the real victims in these businesses- and ruin neighborhoods where they are located. In 2007 the County adopted  an ordinance adopting verbatim a state law that only counties can adopt which applies to unincorporated areas of the county and those cities and towns in the county which do not regulate those businesses. Because the City of Memphis’ sex business ordinance was declared unconstitutional years ago, our county ordinance applies within Memphis city limits. When the ordinance goes into effect, the clubs in Memphis will no longer be able to serve alcohol (beer, wine or mixed drinks) nor allow brown bagging. The owners, employees and entertainers will each be required to have a personal license or permit granted by our Adult Oriented Business Commission, a citizen panel appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the County Commission. The Sheriff and the County Clerk will be involved in this business and personal licensing and permitting operation. I will support vigorous enforcement of this  ordinance.