MEMPHIS, Tenn. — State, local, religious, and educational leaders gathered with parents at the county building Monday to advocate for fully funding Shelby County Schools’ budget.
State Representative G.A. Hardaway, State Senator Lee Harris and School Board member Stephanie Love were among the leaders present, in support of the district.
Shelby County Commissioners were not scheduled to vote on next year’s school budget Monday, but several people used the public comment period to ask for millions more in school funding.
The district has a funding gap of about $27 million.
For SCS to obtain that amount, commissioners would have to provide about $35 million, because some of that money would go to charters and the state-run Achievement School District.
Last week, the mayor’s administration presented a plan to commissioners to increase funding for local districts.
It suggested dedicating more of the county’s wheel tax to local education.
Wheel tax is part of what people pay when they get their car tags.
The county already gives half of the wheel tax to schools.
The county discussed giving the other half to districts’ capital improvements.
SCS asked that all funds go towards its operating budget.
That way, it could gain about another $13 million.
Monday, commissioners discussed the wheel tax for next fiscal year, but opted to send the measure back to committee to work on its wording and clarity.
Last week, SCS told WREG it anticipates that the county’s plan to increase school funding could still leave SCS about $10 million short of what it asked for.
Monday, the commission also approved $2.8 million for SCS’ current fiscal year.
It essentially moved money around, because the district did not need as much money for unemployment claims.
SCS said that money can now go towards other things, like textbooks.