Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council committee advances $487,504 appropriation for school lighting upgrades after questions about selection and oversight
Summary
A budget committee advanced a $487,504 appropriation to cover Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) lighting projects previously allocated in FY25 capital spending; members asked for a detailed school-by-school list and said the city will revisit the request in the next full meeting.
The Budget and Audit Committee on June 24 voted to forward an appropriation of $487,504 to fund MSCS lighting upgrades that had been previously allocated in the FY2025 capital improvement program (GA07010).
City CFO Walter Person explained the funding was part of a $1,000,000 FY25 allocation for MSCS infrastructure improvements. The schools submitted invoices for lighting projects carried out in a number of schools; the appropriation would make those funds available to reimburse the school system for the completed work.
Committee members asked for a school-by-school breakdown before final approval by full council. Councilman Ford asked that the administration provide details showing which schools received money and urged equitable distribution across neighborhoods. Several members noted MSCS's prior capital requests and asked for assurance there would be no duplicate payments.
Action: The committee forwarded the appropriation to full council with a favorable recommendation. Members requested the administration provide a detailed list of school projects and the specific expenditures before council's final vote.
Ending: The committee directed staff to bring back documentation on the specific schools and invoices covered by the appropriation and to return the item at the next regular meeting for final action.
