Memphis schools budget earns approval after more than a month of delay

The Shelby County Commission voted seven to four on Monday to approve Memphis-Shelby County Schools' one point seven billion dollar budget for the twenty twenty-six to twenty twenty-seven school year, Chalkbeat reports, more than a month past the usual deadline. Procedural complications caused the delay—the school board forwarded its proposal to commission leadership rather than directly to all commissioners. Commissioners then amended the budget, redirecting eleven point nine million dollars earmarked for a new Treadwell K-8 school to deferred maintenance. The package includes teacher bonuses for high-need positions and about two hundred million dollars for building repairs. Four commissioners opposed it, frustrated by the absence of district officials to answer questions at the meeting, but Commissioner Henri Brooks urged support, citing the constitutional responsibility to fund education.

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