Shelby County Schools Board Chair David Pickler extending an overture to Memphis City Schools is the equivalent of Dr. Kevorkian volunteering to work in ICU.
You know he’s going to do something, so you really don’t have anyone to blame but yourself if you fall for his unctuous pleas.
After all, Mr. Pickler and the Shelby County School Board have been making race-based decisions and taking racially-biased actions for years. Now, somehow, he expects Memphis City Schools to see him as someone who understands its concerns as he talks about long-time dream of Shelby County Schools as a special school district.
Of course, no conversation would be complete without Mr. Pickler raising the specter of school consolidation, where he sees conspiracies only visible to himself. There is nothing for Memphis in the county schools’ special school district but that does little to deter Mr. Pickler’s ubiquitous demagoguery.
Snow Job
Here’s the thing often lost in the blizzard of talking points and propaganda: We’re the only major county in Tennessee where the schools are not consolidated, which suggests the primary objection by Mr. Pickler: Race.
Mr. Pickler delivered a caustic anti-Memphis message during the recent consolidation campaign, replete with manufactured facts and mangled syllogisms. He may be expecting that his strange bedfellows opposing consolidation – a number of African-American politicos – will continue as he fights for a special school district for Shelby County, but it’s a major miscalculation.
Much of the opposition within this group stemmed from the very fact that the proposed charter did not merge the city and county schools systems, and while we are concerned by the benign racism that suggests that the majority black district only succeeds if it consolidates with the majority white district, it’s hard to argue that school consolidation just might be an idea whose time has come.
This would be true at any time but in the midst of Shelby County Schools’ efforts to establish “separate but equal” school districts in Shelby County, Memphis City Schools Board of Commissioners is right to consider the surrender of its charter as the fail-safe strategy to prevent special school district status for county schools.
Smaller Government
It’s tempting to treat all of this as mere political theater and for the news media to report on it by who’s winning and who’s losing, however, this is an opportunity to rethink the educational system’s structure here in a way that can promote accountability and innovation. It’s been more than 20 years since Shelby County Mayor Bill Morris rolled out a better structure for public education.
It still bears consideration. The plan would move both systems under one administrative/operational structure to recoup efficiencies and cost savings from shared functions such as purchasing, fleet services, personnel, information technology, security, and more. Under this administrative umbrella, the two present districts would become four separate school districts of about 35,000 students, each with its own superintendent and each at a more manageable size.
In this way, each district could concentrate on the unique needs of its students and specific strategies whose lessons could be shared with its sister districts.
Mr. Pickler already knows that his special district is not beneficial to Memphis City Schools. It was about three years ago that he and interim Memphis City Schools Superintendent Dan Ward agreed to back and support an independent assessment of the idea by the University of Memphis. As soon as it became obvious that the study wasn’t agreeing with him, Mr. Pickler characteristically pulled his support and attacked the conclusions of the unreleased report, which showed an upward spike in Memphis taxes and a downward spike in county taxes.
The Politics of Selfishness
The report remains compelling reading, and Shelby County Schools has offered only platitudes and generalities in response to it, rather than data-based arguments that encourage productive discussions. In the end, with the special school district, Shelby County Schools would be given a leg up in money, attention, area, people and opportunity.
In the “center of the universe” approach taken by people outside Memphis – from Mr. Pickler to his school board opponent Ken Hoover and from Senator Mark Norris to Rep. Ron Lollar, their overriding concern is always that county taxpayers get a special break on their taxes. We live in a political age of selfishness, and it’s never more apparent as when these suburbanites oppose with a straight face the concept of equitable school taxation on the grounds that it would make taxes outside Memphis go up. There’s no debate about what’s the best tax policy and what’s fairest. Rather, it’s “all about me” politics centered only on keeping non-Memphis taxpayers from paying more.
Mr. Norris knows better but could not resist political one-upmanship by taking a shot at Memphis City Schools. The city district wants a “mega system,” he said. “The more territory they take in, the more power they can have over more people.” He didn’t produce a shred of evidence for his rhetoric, but said he wouldn’t do anything to hurt Memphis City Schools. That’s cold comfort, but it’s more than a little disingenuous since a main motivation for the county schools’ interest in a special school district is for it to be guaranteed more territory (by freezing present boundaries)and its constant preoccupation with its own pursuit of power (by staying a larger district with taxing authority).
These special school district advocates are quick to say that a special district would not reduce revenues for city schools. That’s not the point. The point is that it would drive up city taxes in such a way that it institutionalizes a tax disparity.
A Real County District
As Memphis City Schools Commissioner Tomeka Hart wisely said: “I’m really sick and tired of people acting like there is something else going on other than what’s going on.” And what’s going on is the continued brand of racial politics practiced by Shelby County Schools, aided and abetted by suburban politicians who spread the myth that the suburbs can succeed while Memphis fails.
These advocates say with no inkling of self-awareness that Memphians should continue to pay twice for schools, an act of inequitable taxation that is not duplicated by any other city in Shelby County. It’s no wonder that the county towns have a competitive advantage in tax rates since county government subsidizes the schools within their borders.
Strangely, the pushers of a special district can never see the mote in their eyes when it comes to recognizing the unequal burden that Memphians have borne for decades for the lifestyles of people outside Memphis. If Mr. Pickler’s district is to call itself the “Shelby County School District,” it should in fact be that: A district for the entire county.
Because of its name, it’s strange to us that Mr. Pickler and others would oppose a true county district, one that is countywide, but we’re most surprised – as we regularly are – by comments by Memphis City Schools Commissioner Jeff Warren, who seems to feed the stereotypes that anything connected with Memphis is a prima facie problem for people outside Memphis.
Fictions
Apparently, Mr. Warren is concerned that the merger of the two districts would drive people out of Shelby County, seemingly accepting the premise that working within one district is destined to send people to the exits. It’s the educational equivalent of the idea that consolidated law enforcement would somehow result in giving criminally-minded Memphians easier access to suburban riches. It’s part and parcel of the “we don’t want Memphis coming out here” fiction that flourishes outside the city.
All in all, the idea of a special school district as envisioned by Mr. Pickler and his minions could do more to kill Shelby County than any fears envisioned by Mr. Warren, because it institutionalizes the “we versus they” mentality that is dragging down our community and guarantees that we limp into the future as a fragmented, divided group.
There’s the feeling outside Memphis that their property taxes for schools should not be invested in every student in public schools but only with the students in county schools. Curiously, no one was concerned about such issues when it was city taxpayers who were footing the bills for county sprawl, new county schools, and county infrastructure.
But that’s what democracy is all about. As a taxing unit, we produce revenues that are shared with people in need of services, whether they are located in Memphis or Millington. The same principle takes place in Tennessee as we send taxes that are spent all over the state.
King or Statesman?
There are some in county government who suggest that Mr. Pickler is all about getting what he wants most: An empire where he can be the monarch, a position that he’s been rehearsing for for years. It’s been clear in recent conflicts with his chief funder – county government – that he sees no reason that there should be any checks and balances for county schools or accountability for its decisions.
If he’s serious about proving his good faith, he’ll produce a definitive recommendation sooner rather than later. We won’t hold our breath, but the ball’s in Mr. Pickler’s court to prove that he has an idea that is in the best interest of every school child in our community.
This is political cynicism at its worst. I have no hope that David Pickler will do anything but what is good for David Pickler. I hope that four other City School Board members will be have the courage to join Tomeka Hart in voting to surrender the City School system’s charter if the State Legislature goes forward with creating this “special district.”
In the meantime, all of us in the City should contact our State Reps and State Senators to tell them to oppose this bill. That includes Republicans Mark White, Steve McManus, Brian Kelsey, and Jim Coley (member of the Education committee). Anyone who votes for the special District is telling the citizens of Memphis that they want us to pay more taxes for less services.
MOst if not all of those guys will vote FOR a special district; your emails to them will go immediately into the trash folder. Tomeka has the right idea; and the possibility that the board would drop its charter is a terrifying scenario for Pickler. He needs MCS to remain an underperforming entity so that his SCS looks good by comparison.
SmartCity,
You unfairly lump me in with Mr. Pickler when you say “..their overriding concern is always that county taxpayers get a special break on their taxes.” Please visit my campaign website (www.kenin10.com), it’s still up. I have opposed taxing authority for county schools since well before I ran for school board and continue to do so today.
I have never said that county schools should get preference over city schools. I have always said that combining the two systems would be a gigantic step backward for BOTH systems. You seem to realize that bigger is not better when discussing the four district idea; but you then do a complete about face and say it is time to consider consolidation.
Eliminating the “us versus them” mentality that animates this issue is a big part of what motivated me to run for school board. If you want to know what I think about special school district status (I favor a SSD with no taxing authority), visit my blog, http://www.scswatch.com.
Thanks for commenting, Mr. Hoover. We feel better since we’d supported you for election to the school board as a way to bring fresh thinking to its walled off community.
You supported him without understanding his position on the big issue facing the school board?
If I remember correctly, the 4 district idea would be to divide the entire county into districts that encompass both affluent and poor, inner city schools in each district, not continue to try and segregate by economic class. To do that would require consolidation first, then an equitable division. I think SCM supported Hoover because he was at least reasonable when compared to Pickler.
Not sure I understand what the problem is. Folks in Memphis always complain that they are double taxed, the county gets a free ride on their backs. Then someone says okay let’s keep everything separated – you pay for your kids and we will pay for our kids. Then you hear, oh no taxes in the city will go up X% its the end of the world we will have to dissolve.
Newsflash. People moved to the burbs for a reason – primary of which is they want a safe place for their family. Second of which is they do not want to deal with the problems of Memphis. You folks just can’t get it through your thick heads. Change the rules and people leave. The same way they left Memphis. Sure you might buy yourself another 5-6 years but folks are moving again.
You see your blog always focuses on how you can rob me the suburban guy a little more. Take more of my money. Leave me with a little less for retirement so you can spend a billion bucks with a 6% college readiness rate. Excuse me (and the collective us) that rather spend that money on our kids and family.
I like to spend my money on problems that can be solved.
Leave- I think that adequately summarizes the thought process and mentality of the vocal minority in suburban areas and proves so many points concerning this entire issue.
Leave- You do realize that if people never left that their schools and communities would never decline right? Stay put and your neighborhood stays safe. So why do people start to move? I fail to understand this.
Anon 2:23 is exactly correct. Even in the most recent proposal by WWH the combined district was divided into four separate sub-districts, each with its own superintendent and overseen by a Chancellor of Education. The high level administration was concentrated in the Chancellor’s office and duplication of services as well as unnecessary positions were (from both existing systems) were eliminated. It allowed for an even distribution of all races. It also evenly distributed elementary, middle and high schools. It left no district with just the “good schools” in terms of age, condition or educational attainment. It proposed a 9 member Board which represented the demographics of the County as a whole.
It was based on the Washington, D.C, New York City and Chicago Systems. Its non-acceptance lead to the so-called “high jacked education Committee” which eventually was dominated and steered by suburban interests and urban politicians eager to hang on to what they currently controlled.
With some tweeks and input from current administrations, it remains one viable solution.
leave, unfortunately for you and those who think like you, the responsibility of education ultimately lies with the county and the state. So if Memphis wants to get out of the education business, that’s their business, not yours. Or you could get Germantown, collierville, Bartlett, etc., to start their own school systems. btw, I live in Germantown, and have 3 kids in SCS, so I’m well aware of the strengths and weaknesses of SCS. I like the county schools, but this, I got mine, you get yours attitude of non-Memphis residents of Shelby County towards Memphis residents is wrong and counterproductive to attaining a good quality of life here. It’s got to stop or we’ll all go down the tubes.
Anonymous 2:06:
We knew his position on taxing authority for a special school district at the time of the school board election, but based on recent statements, we were led to believe that he’d changed his mind.
Leave the county alone: Considering that Memphis taxpayers have subsidized your lifestyles and sprawl for decades, we don’t think it’s unreasonable for all of us to care about the funding of public education for our children. The Pickler scheme is that: A scheme. City taxpayers have traditionally paid twice for services that you pay for once, and that’s unfair by anyone’s definition.
Any idea that would short-change city students or drive up city taxes are short-sighted and wrong-headed. And as long as people perpetuate Memphis as the enemy, they are signing their own failure in the future and as far as we’re concerned, we’re fine with anyone moving who isn’t willing to pay his fair share of taxes for services that all of us use.
In fact, LEAVE, if you’re going to leave, why not just leave the entire metro area? if you resent the very city that provides you your living, I’m sure Little Rock or Nashville would take you. Unless they’re too poor for you, too.
Back to the topic at hand: Tom, what’s your take on the MCS nuclear option? I think it’s the best thing possible. if they sell their houses and leave, it will be at a HUGE loss, so that’s just a straw-man argument, IMO.
Steve:
It is in fact the nuclear option, it’s only being used because Shelby County Schools launched their missiles first.
All the emotional rhetoric from “county” folks aside, it’s worth remembering that three out of four households here don’t have kids in schools, so it’s hard to imagine that changes in school structure would somehow drive people out of Shelby County who own houses and have put down roots.
It’s also worth remembering that despite all the rhetoric of the politicians and the suburban alarmists, consolidated school systems in Tennessee have done an admirable job of controlling costs and their budgets are growing at a much slower rate. We were under the impression that this is what all these conservative folks want.
Here’s the kicker. It’s always been thought that schools is a major reason that people move out of Memphis and Shelby County. In truth, it’s the #7 reason, so all the hand-wringing about schools is chiefly just another way for some people who like to rail against Memphis (and despite what they say, race is at the base of much of it)and pretend that it’s over schools.
And you’re right, selling their houses will be at a huge loss.
Aaron: “You do realize that if people never left that their schools and communities would never decline right? Stay put and your neighborhood stays safe. So why do people start to move? I fail to understand this”
My guess is it was an event strangely similar to the Mayan Indians. Without any provocation they just up and left.. sure.
Packrat: “but this, I got mine, you get yours attitude of non-Memphis residents of Shelby County”
Why? If you take that line of thinking why stop in the county you could step up all the way until you considered the entire planet. We could even out all the resources and everyone would be happy. Extreme, dumb example yes but I never understand why because I live in the city of Memphis I am more responsible to help the citizens here rather than the poor citizens of another community.
SCM: “Considering that Memphis taxpayers have subsidized your lifestyles and sprawl for decades”
You haven’t. I am relatively new transplant.
SCM: “we don’t think it’s unreasonable for all of us to care about the funding of public education for our children. ”
I would rather you start caring about raising your children than how to raise take more of my tax money. Money is not the solution, you got plenty of that.
SCM: “City taxpayers have traditionally paid twice for services that you pay for once, and that’s unfair by anyone’s definition.”
Then why is everyone saying if it happened that the city taxes would go up a bunch and the county taxes down. Either you are not paying ‘twice’ or you are. In this case your not.
SCM: “Any idea that would short-change city students or drive up city taxes are short-sighted and wrong-headed.”
So it is okay for you to do it to county residents and students but not vice versa.
SCM: “And as long as people perpetuate Memphis as the enemy,”
Your not the enemy. Your more like the cousin that never got a job still wanting mommy and daddy to pay for your car.
SCM: “we’re fine with anyone moving who isn’t willing to pay his fair share of taxes for services that all of us use.”
That’s what you keep saying. And when we keep moving you cry about it, that your annexed utopia is gone. The definition of crazy is…
Steven: “if you resent the very city that provides you your living”
The ‘city’ does not provide anything to me. You see that is where you city dwellers and us suburban hard workers differ. We do not rely on the city to provide. We provide for ourselves, the city simply takes and gives to others.
“The ‘city’ does not provide anything to me. You see that is where you city dwellers and us suburban hard workers differ. We do not rely on the city to provide. We provide for ourselves, the city simply takes and gives to others.”
If the city of memphis did not exist, the suburb you live in wouldn’t have a reason to exist either. Bottom line, it is not the city of memphis’ ultimate obligation to provide for public education, it is Shelby County’s and the state’s. So if memphis wants to drop its charter, they have every right to do so.
“I never understand why because I live in the city of Memphis I am more responsible to help the citizens here rather than the poor citizens of another community”
Consider it self interest. An educated and productive fellow Shelby Countian is less likely to stick a gun in your face and kill you in a robbery attempt. A better educated and productive populace means a better tax base, better jobs and higher property values. Try hard, I bet you can think of a few more good reasons.
“If the city of memphis did not exist, the suburb you live in wouldn’t have a reason to exist either. Bottom line, it is not the city of memphis’ ultimate obligation to provide for public education, it is Shelby County’s and the state’s. So if memphis wants to drop its charter, they have every right to do so.”
For this blog typically and for most, the city is not the city lines but the urban core. Today, the real business center is out at Poplar and Ridgeway (outside of 240). So if you will give me what should be Germantown, that would include IP, SVM, and FedEx in Collierville to name a few then we would have a strong city. I would agree with your premise that had the city of Memphis never existed the burbs would have never existed.
I never said MCS would be in the wrong to drop their charter. Heck if I was relying on the folks trying to run the city or improve the city over the past 10 years I would be pretty fed up also with their performance. Zero new ideas, only tax the burbs to throw more money at problems we ain’t going to solve.
“An educated and productive fellow Shelby Countian is less likely to stick a gun in your face and kill you in a robbery attempt.”
It is not working. I am not sure how it could work any less. Unless I see some new ideas being brought to the table that does not require my child to teach other kids his own age manners or my retirement fund being raided to provide more daycare then I am all ears.
“The ‘city’ does not provide anything to me. You see that is where you city dwellers and us suburban hard workers differ. We do not rely on the city to provide. We provide for ourselves, the city simply takes and gives to others”.
In order to avoid hypocrisy, I have no doubt that Leave would permit themselves (or their dependents)utilization of the burn center at the Med, ambulance services, and of course never drives within the city limits- among countless other activities and resources in fact partly or wholly funded by the city. What a shallow perception. Leave only perpetuates the stereotype of suburbanites as narrow minded individuals who having no ability to conceive of an existence beyond their own experience, simply go about their lives either demeaning those different from themselves or ignoring any facts that conflict with their idea of “living right”. Leave represents that vocal, “They took er’ Jobs, Real men Pray, Toby Keith for President”, minority that are better suited living in some isolated, rural backwater in Montana with minimal diversity and minimal connection with the wider world around them because they simply are unable to contemplate how communities work and want nothing to do with other individuals. Drop Leave in Midtown Manhattan and their head would explode.
The point about the business center being located at Poplar and Ridgeway is typical suburban drivel that fails to recognize the reality of the wider universe that exists beyond Saddle Creek. With approximately 60,000 employees located downtown, the summary of the regions employment pattern does not hold water. “Should be Germantown” is a weak argument and does not merit further comment except to say that one could reverse the same shallow logic and say that had Memphis been more aggressive in its annexation policies earlier in the 20th century one could state Germantown should be Memphis. So little knowledge of the area and its history yet so ready to state it as fact.
To follow up, it is good to know that Leave is never provided for in their life. They obviously pave their own route to work, provide their own medical services (leaches and herbs no doubt), home schooled their children, would extinguish any home fire should it burn and have never used any form of insurance. They pump their own water, treat their own sewage and have their own electric generation and distribution capacity (seeing as the TVA is heavily subsidized by the federal government and thus they are being supported by other “hard workers”). In the end Leave is simply a leach on society, so as soon as they stop sucking on the public tit, I hope they will return and tell us how such a “hard worker” no longer relies on my hard work- as a city resident- to help support their needy lifestyle.
Seeing as they already have so many answers, I have no doubt they will break from the suburban stereotype and provide new solutions to the age old problems they are so concerned about taxing their retirement fund.
Steve and Tom,
You keep referring to the MCS Board voting for a referendum on surrendering the City Schools charter as a “nuclear option” like it is a radical move designed to blow up the entire County.
Actually, it is very logical and something that the school board should have done in the ’80’s when it was first proposed. Unfortunately, the Board was intimidated by the demonstrations at County Schools and threats of a “new County.”
By surrendering the City schools charter, we would be following following Davidson, Knox, Hamilton, Madison, Tipton, and possibly other Counties in TN and other urban systems around the country, acknowledging that the reason for creating the special district has long past and we need to move forward towards a more workable and more equitable way of educating children in this county.
I hope that their are at least five brave and insghtful School Board members who will vote YES to surrender the charter. If not, Pickler and company will make some gestures about making sure that we are all funded right but the State legislature will likely ok the county special District, taxes will go up for us in the City and down for the County and District lines will be drawn like the Berlin Wall, segregating us by economic class and to a large extent by race. This not only hurt education but negatively affect our ability to grow as a metropolitan area.
How is it that seemingly intelligent people can so easily disregard or ignore the fact that the social and economic problems of the so-called “urban core” are the direct and incontrovertible result of a history of slavery and apartheid that benefited monied interests at the expense of labor.
Most every impoverished neighborhood I know of was originally built to house labor for industries that have since been shuttered or relocated, leaving behind communities with no jobs or chronic underemployment while the capital and profit has moved outward. It is the essence of non-sustainability.
Dwayne: I think we’re saying the same thing.
Scott: Agree completely. As we said a couple of months ago, the suburbanites now blame Memphians for conditions and problems that they in fact helped to create, aided and abetted by a county government funding sprawl as a way to desperately try to keep a Republican majority in Shelby County.
Apartheid? Give me a break.
I know we are in agreement but I was mainly saying the “nuclear option” is an inaccurate term for a change that really isn’t radical at all.
In my first reply in this thread, I reocmmended contacting your state senator and state rep. Now I recommend, if you live in the City, to contact your school board representatives. That would be three people, your district school member plus the two at-large members, Freda Williams and Kenneth Whalum. Unfortunately, Whalum was quoted as saying he opposes surrendering the charter (therefore, supporting Pickler and company) but Williams is not totally decided at this point but leaning against.
Dwayne: We agree completely. It’s a perfectly legal option for Memphis City Schools, and it’s the county system that’s gone nuclear in their continued paranoia over anything that it’s all about them.
Thanks for reminding all of us to get involved by letting our elected officials what we think.
Note to Pickler:
YOU ARE A FILTHY PIECE OF SH*T. I WOULD LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIGHT YOU. YOUR RACISM DISGUSTS ME, BUT ALSO TYPIFIES THE COUNTY ATTITUDE. YOU ARE AN EMBARRASSMENT TO HUMANITY.
“For this blog typically and for most, the city is not the city lines but the urban core. Today, the real business center is out at Poplar and Ridgeway (outside of 240). So if you will give me what should be Germantown, that would include IP, SVM, and FedEx in Collierville to name a few then we would have a strong city.”
The lines are where they are. As for “what should be Germantown,” that has to be one of the lamest, most ignorant statements of presumption I’ve heard in a while. Who says that area “should be” Germantown. Hell, I live in Germantown and I don’t even remotely think that way. Perhaps those who live in East Memphis think Germantown “should be” part of East Memphis.
Until people around here act like we’re all part of the same metro area, which we ARE, with a shared interest in solving problems, this metro area will continue its long slide into the abyss.
Good news — there is no way to stop the county from forming a special district. Research proves dropping the charter is more bluster than anything else, the devil is in the details. Timing is everything
County 1 Freeloaders 0
Leave, in essence what you’re saying is Shelby County owes a quality public education only to county residents outside Memphis, which is of course, despicable. Taking your view to its logical conclusion, anyone who uses public schools for the education of their children is a freeloader. They should all just go private or home school.
It has been interesting reading the posts related to the surrender of the Memphis City Schools Charter. I was surprised to see that I am being reported as “leaning against” surrender of the charter. My position is that I am definitely against any action that would deny a free and appropriate education to the children of the City of Memphis. There are several key questions for which I need answers to determine my ultimate position on this matter:
1. How much money do county residents who live outside the City of Memphis contribute to the MCS budget? I have seen reference to “49% of the residential tax base for Shelby County is outside the City of Memphis”. Even if this is true, it does not take into account that Shelby County Schools are operated out of that tax base also. What is the approximate dollar amount generated by Shelby County residents outside of Memphis that supports MCS?
2. How would the loss of funds from the tax base outside of Memphis compare with the loss of education tax funds contributed by the City of Memphis?
3. What will be the “Maintenance of Effort (MOE)” required by the Shelby County Government if the districts merge? TNDOE has at least two tests of MOE: per pupil expenditure allocation or no less than the dollar amount paid to the district during the last school year. Since the surrender of the MCS Charter would not create a new school district, what would be the requirement for the Shelby County Government to achieve MOE for Shelby County Schools? I have been told that they would need to provide at least what they provided to both district during this school year, but I have not seen this in any legal document – no TNDOE ruling on this matter.
These are several of the major questions that I have. On another note, I find it interesting that some of the county residents who live outside of Memphis seem to want nothing to do with Memphis. This idea is contradicted every workday morning when W I40 has stand-still traffic. County residents who reside outside of Memphis are coming into the City to earn the money that they use to create that wonderful tax base that they have.
@Anonymous 8:20
Not sure about the last question you asked, but as for the first two:
1. About 22 percent of county taxes set aside for education from residents outside of Memphis goes toward MCS’ budget (12 percent of it based on what someone told me).
2. Since Memphians also pay county taxes, in addition to city taxes, any changes in the county tax rate would be across the board and not limited to those living outside the city proper; however, city taxes inside Memphis would have to be raised and/or city services would have to be cut in order to make up the difference for a potential loss of that 12 percent of MCS funding from suburban residents of the county (about $30+ million) and any reduction in county tax revenue from Memphis residents. That’s assuming there is a county tax cut involved, which may not be legal due to Maintenance of Effort standards enforced by the state which also applies to Shelby County Government in addition to City of Memphis government (since they’re a legally-binded contributor to the MCS system).
I’m not too sure about the numbers myself as I’m just going off of what I’ve been told.