Parents pushing for high-quality education during tough economic times told state legislators Saturday that they'd be willing to pay more taxes to save teachers' jobs.

But three Republican legislators at a public forum at Providence High School said a tax hike in the midst of double-digit inflation is not the answer to the budget crisis in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

"The last thing you want to do is raise taxes during a recession," N.C. Sen. Bob Rucho told a crowd of more than 200.

"Most of us ran on a no-tax-increase pledge," said N.C. Rep. Bill Brawley.

Rucho, Brawley and N.C. Rep. Ric Killian answered questions for more than two hours at the forum, which gave the public a chance to explore budget issues with legislators.

School board member Tim Morgan, whose district includes Providence High, also fielded questions.

The legislature, which controls more than 50 percent of CMS' $1billion spending plan, is facing a projected $3.5billion budget shortfall.

Mecklenburg County, which provides about 30 percent of the CMS budget, also faces budget woes. And CMS expects to lose about $15million in federal stimulus money next year.

The school board has already launched plans to trim $100million from the CMS budget by announcing that 395 teachers and 164 education support personnel face layoffs next year.

In light of these grim figures, parents such as John Reid - who has children at Providence High, South Charlotte Middle School and Elizabeth Lane Elementary - suggested that school boards be given taxing authority so they could raise taxes to help boost their budgets.

But neither Brawley nor Rucho favored that idea.

"I don't think it would pass the legislature this session," Brawley said.

Killian suggested small pay reductions for "everyone in the pay structure" to avoid cutting teaching positions.

"What we're going to be looking for is shifting resources to where they can do the most good for the classroom," Rucho said.

A number of parents, including Lisa Williamson, the mother of a McAlpine Elementary student, said they'd be willing to pay more local tax if they knew it would go to the schools.

"I believe we can't cut anymore without hurting our teachers," she said. "I want to see CMS be successful."

But Brawley said he's not convinced that raising more money is the key to success.

Instead, he suggested making better use of the existing money.

"You just have to prioritize how you spend it," he said.