Herenton attends funding fight

WMCTV.com
February 23, 2005


A controversial statement by Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton has the Hill in Nashville buzzing. Within minutes of his opening remarks to the Shelby County delegation Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton made a controversial statement regarding funding education.

Herenton said, "Do you know when the funding mechanism is gonna change? When the education of white students in the suburbs begins to suffer." Several people took exception to that statement. Herenton's main message was he wants Shelby County to pay for all education in Shelby County and for the city to stop and he admitted it's part of a grand plan. "I'm trying to force the consolidation agenda because in the long run I think that's the most efficient form of government and it's going to force us to make sense of the tax dollar."

Herenton opposed a proposal before legislators that would allow Memphis and Shelby County School boards to bypass local government and go to the state for funding. "I'm gonna work as hard as I can against any provisions that allow school systems to tax the citizens." While he had supporters, Herenton did not go unchallenged.

Sen. Mark Norris said, "It runs the risk of ultimate disruption what Shelby County needs is a stabilizing influence. Things need to be stabilized there. That's what I think special school districts provide." While Senator and Mayor disagree on how, both agree something must be changed to provide more for students. Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton was supposed to be in Nashville, but an aide said Wharton decided he had too much work in his office and thought he was well represented at the Capitol.