CHARLOTTE -- Mecklenburg County commissioners and Charlotte Mecklenburg school board members held a rare joint meeting to decide how much to spend on schools.

The school board members are asking the county for $351 million.

County manager Harry Jones still says the county can't afford more than $317 million.

Channel 9 spoke with one of the county commissioners who also served on the school board.

Vilma Leake said, "You've heard me say that, as a school board member, it used to be tunnel vision, nothing but education, but, as I have been across the street and looking at a greater picture, it's a broader picture. It's the total community."

County commissioners have the final say and they plan to vote on the budget next month.