Wharton Weighs Options for MCS Funding

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - There seems to be no easy answers when it comes to giving Memphis City Schools millions of dollars in back funding. After a weekend meeting between Mayor A C Wharton and labor union reps, the solution may come in the form of higher taxes.

A decision made by Memphis City Council two years ago when A C Wharton was Shelby County mayor is haunting him now as the city mayor. Paying back the 57 million dollars the school system did not receive from the city in 2008 is now the job of the Wharton administration.

"I wasn't here when this was done. It doesn't do any good for me to stand around and keep saying that. Fact of the matter is it's mine now," said Mayor Wharton. "I'm chief executive. There are 13 members of the council. When something goes wrong they are not going to look for 13 council members, they are going to come to one office."

After the council made the decision to no longer fund the school they then voted to lower the city tax rate by 18 cents. It was great news at the time, but two years later a tax hike may be the solution to giving MCS their money back.

Saturday, Mayor Wharton met with labor union representatives to come up with ideas of how to repay MCS.

"I am like every other citizen. I am not real wild about raising taxes but I don't see any other real alternative at this point to raise that kind of money within the time period were talking about," said Paul Schaffer with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 474.

"I don't see any other option really; it's 10 percent of the budget. I don't know where they're going to come up with that. They can cut positions but they are not going to raise 57 million without raising taxes," added one concerned Memphian.

"I have to be honest, there is always that probability but I can assure the citizens of one thing. That will be the absolute last resort," Wharton stated.

Tuesday FOX13 took to the streets to find out what the people think their elected officials should do.

"The City of Memphis should stop doing things like running an emergency election for Herenton in the middle of the term because I know that cost millions of dollars. We're wasting money in places that we don't have money to go," said one Memphian.

"The first thing they need to do before thinking about raising taxes is to check what waste is going on in the City of Memphis," suggested another Memphian.

"You've got buildings and stuff that you put up and they spend money on and nobody is using them. That's more money you spend on making Memphis a ghost town," added another Memphian.

Some suggested cutting staff, but Wharton says it's not that simple. He has to maintain the police and fire departments to keep our streets safe and clean.

"We've got weeds neglected. People around here, the citizens, are begging please clean up our neighborhoods," Wharton said. "That's what makes it so difficult. Unlike the school system with only one product, I've got dozens of products that are essential."