MEMPHIS, TN -
(WMC-TV) - The push to require all Shelby County and Memphis City Schools teachers to be residents of the county is one step closer to becoming a reality.
The question is, will Memphis City School teachers get a five year grace period to move into Shelby County?
It looks like Shelby County commissioners will vote on that issue Monday.
If the vote turns out the way it did in committee, MCS teachers will have five years to move into Shelby County in order to keep their jobs. School employees hired before September 1986 will be grand fathered in and will not have to move.
"We could get sued if we don't do this. If you allow somebody to be grand fathered and you're not allowing other residents, if you're making part of the people live under one policy and not making others, those folks could sue, too," said Shelby County Commissioner Terry Roland.
There are about 1,400 Memphis City School teachers living outside of the county, not to mention other Memphis City Schools employees.
Several commissioners shared their opinions on the residency issue. Some were concerned about its fairness.
"People want to work for Shelby County and the old Memphis City School system because our salaries tend to be higher," explained Shelby County Commissioner Heidi Shafer. "They like that but the reason our salaries are higher is because our people pay more taxes."
"They're having to bear the tax burden and these people who want to escape, who live in adjacent counties, are free loaders," said Commissioner Walter Bailey.
Commissioner Steve Mulroy was the only vote against this residency ordinance.
"All these teachers who rearranged their affairs in reliance of what the rule was and are now making changes in the middle of the game are going to be in limbo," said Commissioner Steve Mulroy.
County commissioners also came one step closer to eliminating the residency requirement altogether. That would require a change in the county's charter, which mean the voters would have to decide on this issue on the August 2014 ballot.
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