Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Peter Gorman said Wednesday he fully supports the school board's decision to add $45 million to the 2011 budget request, in an effort to stave off layoffs and program cuts.

But the idea received mixed reactions from Mecklenburg County leaders, who probably would be asked to shoulder the bulk of any increase to the schools.

Gorman's proposed budget already asks the county for an additional $10 million for enrollment growth and rising costs.

School board Chairman Eric Davis said a decision will be made by May 10 on how much to increase the request to the county. But though no formal vote has been taken yet, most school board members said Tuesday they want to add $45 million.

That would save more than 1,000 jobs, maintain the current student-teacher class ratios, and prevent big cuts in the Bright Beginnings pre-kindergarten program.

Gorman said that even if CMS gets the additional $45 million, it still will be cutting more than $45 million from its budget. Gorman originally said he was assuming CMS would have to absorb a $100 million cut - largely because the recession is expected to force state lawmakers to slash the budget this year.

When asked Wednesday why the school board decided to ask commissioners for the extra money, Gorman said, "That's what we need." He added, "The board looked back at what the budget from the county used to be."

Some commissioners have said they would be willing to consider more money for schools but say any request needs to be considered along with other county needs. Some also wondered whether those asking the county for more money also are making the same request to the state.

"We just don't have a money tree," said Vice Chair Jim Pendergraph, a Republican. "CMS is not the only responsibility we have. Even though it's an important responsibility we have to fund, it's not the only one."

Pendergraph and Commissioner Vilma Leake, a Democrat, said they want to learn more about what CMS has already done to save money. Leake said she wouldn't support a $55 million increase and is concerned about money that's currently going to some other initiatives.

Chair Jennifer Roberts, a Democrat, said it's too early to know what will happen but says the county and school boards need to have an honest dialogue about what the district's needs are.

But commissioner Bill James said the school board's request is an effort to force Democrats on the county board to maintain the current property tax rate, which he said would bring about "a massive tax increase." Some parents and other children's advocates also have said the county shouldn't reduce the tax rate.

Democratic commissioners have been hesitant to commit to any tax rate, while Republicans say it should be lowered to the "revenue-neutral" level, where new property tax values would produce the same overall amount of tax revenue in 2012 as in 2011, plus some growth.

County Manager Harry Jones has not said what tax rate he'll recommend when he presents his budget on May 17.

But in an email to commissioners, he said the county needs to figure out how it'll cover $24 million in school construction debt payments before considering more money for CMS operations or other county needs. He said the county must offset lost proceeds from the state lottery and money the county won't take from reserves to cover debt payments.