Taking over school security will cost Shelby County more than $2 million a year following the merger. The County is hoping the City of Memphis will agree to continue to be responsible for the money.  

Still, the County Commission went ahead and approved the money for 35 new Sheriff's deputies to put in the schools. The deputies will take over for Memphis Police Officers, an expense paid for by City of Memphis taxpayers.

But, the Commission added a provision to the approval today where they don't hire a class of deputies next year if the city agrees to keep policing the schools.

Commissioner Steve Mulroy says the County is negotiating with the City right now, "There's a lot of reasons why it makes sense for the city to continue to do this service, all these schools are in the city, they already have school resource officers who are trained who know these schools and know these kids.  It would just be cheaper and more efficient and better for the kids if the city continued to do it."

Mulroy says if the City is willing to continue to fund security, the County could fund another service. He mentioned, specifically, the Animal Shelter.

But, the Memphis City Councilmen who spoke with Fox13 say they have no interest in continuing to spend millions a year on a service they are no longer required to offer.