Council sets referendum to raise tax for schools

Sheffield - Council members Monday approved a Sept. 11 referendum to allow residents to determine whether to add a 5-mill ad valorem tax to help fund the city's school system.

City School Superintendent Richard Gardner said the additional 5 mills would raise about $200,000 annually for the school system. The money will be used to maintain staffing levels in the school system, he said.

The city's current millage rate for schools is 19 mills, Mayor Billy Don Anderson said.

Gardner said the new tax would cost $49 annually for owners of property valued at $100,000.

In May, Sheffield voters approved the renewal of a 5-mill tax that was passed 20 years ago. The tax's renewal date was overlooked by city and school officials, which cost the system about $200,000 this year, Anderson said.

Even before that loss of revenue, the school system was forced to eliminate several positions.

"During the 2006-2007 budget year, we reduced staff by 5 percent," Gardner told council members. "We don't want to have that happen again."

All nine jobs that were lost involved retiring employees who were not replaced.

He said without the additional revenue, additional staffing cuts would be necessary.

Gardner encouraged Sheffield residents to approve the tax.

"We should support the schools as much as we can," Councilwoman Verna Brennan said.

Councilman Waylon Huguley agreed.

"It's needed," he said.

The council also approved a lease agreement with Verizon Wireless to place a monopole-style cellular telephone tower at the Sheffield youth park on Blackwell Road.

The city will receive $18,000 annually for the lease, which will last five years. The contract has four five-year renewals, making it essentially a 25-year lease. They lease payments will be made to the city's recreation department.

The rent will increase 10 percent each renewal period.

In other business, the council:

• was informed of a $500,000 claim filed by several city firefighters concerning overtime pay that they state they were never compensated for.
• approved the abatement of nuisance properties at 2607, 2609 and 2611 14th Ave.
• approved a resolution recognizing a former fire chief, the late Edward O'Dell Murray.
• approved the payment of $40.11 of expenses for police officer Wesley Tidwell.
• announced a vacancy on the Sheffield Planning Board.
• announced that seats on the city's redevelopment and civil service boards and Shoals Economic Development Authority board will expire in September.

Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@timesdaily.com