With the first day of school in the buses’ rear view mirror, Shelby County Commissioners approved a $1.799 billion FY2027 budget for the Memphis-Shelby County Schools on Monday, Aug. 10.
The combined operating and capital improvement budgets were passed 7-4. Voting in favor of the amended proposal were Michael Whaley, Miska Clay Bibbs, Charlie Caswell, Matthew Szalaj, Henri Brooks, Mickell Lowery and Chairwoman Shante Avant. Members Amber Mills, Mick Wright, Britany Thornton and Brandon Morrison voted against the item.
Commissioners Erika Sugarmon and David Bradford recused themselves due to conflicts of interest.
MSCS budgets are typically passed during the annual budget season, which ends on June 30. After the school board approved the budget in late May, it was promptly submitted to the county’s finance team for review. However, commissioners did not receive copies until “much later.”
Streamlining the process for a future commission was discussed during a previous committee meeting. It will be the final MSCS budget vote for a majority of the members. Seven of the 13 board members are exiting via term limits at the end of the month. Britany Thornton opted not to seek a second term.
“One of the things we did discuss is to make sure we change the process for the future. Such that there is some redundancy in how the budget is submitted, so it can be prepared concurrently with the county budget. Which is how it should have happened,” said Budget Committee Chairman Whaley.
Commissioners left the meeting unclear about which budget Shelby County’s schools were operating under on their first day back. When asked, county attorney Meghan Smith passed the buck.
“I would defer to the county schools for that answer. I do not know,” said Smith.
The proposal was amended by $120 million in late June. Shelby County Director of Finance Audrey Tipton deferred to the MSCS school board for the breakdown. During the meeting, a MSCS representative did not speak on behalf of the proposal.
“I don’t think it is a good look for someone from MSCS not to be here during this moment. You know, we’re talking about a $1.7 billion budget. There are lots of questions. Constituents deserve to have answers in real time,” said Thornton. Wright agreed that it was a “bad look.”
Caswell later informed members that MSCS board member Stephanie Love attempted to attend the meeting, but wasn’t allowed entry into the parking garage. “She was out there. I’m sorry I missed her, because she was sitting outside trying to get in,” explained Caswell.
The budget includes $200 million to address building updates. Another $11.9 million is redirected from unspent funds from the East Memphis High School construction project. It will go towards deferred maintenance and repairs. Meanwhile, the budget seeks a 2% staff reduction, or 345 positions, from recent school closures.
Funding for the state-ordered oversight board is also contained in the budget. Each of the nine-member appointees would receive $30,000. Still, the status of the board is currently uncertain. On July 1, a federal judge issued an injunction pausing the takeover. The administration of Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and MSCS filed a lawsuit, arguing the state intervention was unconstitutional.
The judge’s ruling allowed the budget to pass without state interference. Still, if the lawsuit fails, the takeover board would gain power of the spending plan. It could also ignore the wishes of the school board and commission.
One thing the budget doesn’t include is new devices for high school students. This year’s seniors were slated to receive new Ipads, but will have to make due with their previously issued devices. Other students will have to provide their own. Moreover, textbooks for many subjects are only issued online.
“Not everyone can afford a device,” said Sugarmon. “So I would like the school board to address that this year and please provide all students with a device.”
The sticker price for a new Ipad starts at around $500.
