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The Shelby County Commission voted 7-4 Monday to approve Memphis schools’ budget for the 2026-27 year, over a month after the usual decision deadline.
During the meeting, Commissioner Michael Whaley said the delay came from “redundancies” in the budget approval process that he plans to change. He said Memphis-Shelby County board members first sent their proposal to commission leadership rather than individual commissioners, causing a delay.
The commission then sent the budget back to MSCS with an amendment that moved $11.9 million into the district’s deferred maintenance budget instead of setting the money aside for a new Treadwell K-8 School, as Mayor Lee Harris initially proposed. The local board approved that version in its meeting last month.
MSCS board members first approved the $1.7 billion budget at the end of May, on the brink of a state takeover that would strip them of the independent power to approve budgets for the next four years. The budget includes bonuses for teachers who fill high-need positions and around $200 million for building repairs.
A federal judge temporarily blocked MSCS’ state-appointed oversight board from taking control of district operations at the end of June. But Memphis students have been back in the classroom for over a week, and the budget was meant to be finalized by July 1.
Some commissioners criticized MSCS officials for not sending a representative to answer questions at Monday’s meeting, though Whaley said MSCS was not responsible for the budget delays.
“I just simply can’t support it if there’s no one here to advocate it,” said Commissioner Mick Wright. “It’s really a shame.”
Wright voted against MSCS’ budget, alongside Commissioners Britney Thornton, Amber Mills, and Brandon Morrison.
But Commissioner Henri Brooks, who voted to pass the budget, said her colleagues’ criticism of MSCS officials was becoming personal and urged them to stop “browbeating” district leaders.
“We have a constitutional responsibility to fund education,” she said.
Bri Hatch covers Memphis-Shelby County Schools for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Reach Bri at bhatch@chalkbeat.org.
