(CN) - Memphis improperly slashed the budget of Memphis City Schools by cutting $56 million in local funding for the 2008-09 school year, the Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled.
The school board sued the city after the city budgeted $27.2 million for the school district for that school year. The district had asked for $93.5 million, and one year earlier, the city supplied $84.7 million.
The trial court sided with the school board, ordering the city to increase its funding to match the previous year's amount.
Judge David Farmer affirmed that ruling on appeal.
"There is nothing in the Memphis charter or in the general statutory provisions to suggest that the city is not obligated to fund the Memphis City Schools," Farmer wrote.
"We believe the General Assembly has created a system in Memphis whereby both Shelby County and the City are required to fund the city schools."
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