CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools superintendent Dr. Clayton Wilcox got somewhat of an icy reception when he presented his $1.5 billion budget to county commissioners.

  • Budget prioritizes salary raises for teachers and school safety
  • Superintendent is asking for $40 million more for upcoming school year
  • County commission will vote June 19 on budget

Wilcox is asking them for $40 million more for the 2018-2019 school year.

"We've brought to you what we think is a financially responsible budget," Wilcox told commissioners.

"This presentation is very approachable. It's clear," Commissioner Trevor Fuller told Wilcox.

The budget prioritizes school safety and teacher raises, to name a few categories. "They all make sense to me,” Commissioner George Dunlap added. “I don't have any real concerns."

Fuller even suggested increasing the amount by more than just $7 million to help fund a salary supplement teachers get through the county. "I think we need to try harder to at least, on this supplement part, because I think it's a competitiveness issue."

Others commissioners, however, were not as pleased with the billion-dollar budget. "I really do not care how you spend your money,” Commissioner Puckett said. “I care about how we remain competitive in a global market."

Puckett took issue with Wilcox's request for more money by comparing CMS' student population to that of local charter schools. "They will grow by 1,800 kids,” Puckett told Wilcox. “You will shrink by 179. We're spending half as much in charter schools."

Puckett also said he had trouble understanding CMS wanting $9 million to better secure school facilities. "I will tell you, you have a $922 million bond fund,” he said. “If you need to make higher priorities in facilities, that is the place I would go."

The budget discussion even got a little awkward, at times. "We don't have relationships, and if we had relationships, we could work better together," Commissioner Pat Cotham said to Wilcox.

Commissioner Dumont Clark says the discussion may all be a mute point. He already predicts what CMS will get based upon the current tax rate. "Somewhere between $15 and $20 million max from the county but that doesn't mean you shouldn't tell us what your needs are," Clark said.

The county commission will vote on its budget, which includes CMS funding, June 19.​

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