Proposed budget shows $350,000 deficit

SHEFFIELD - City school officials are hoping the financial cards fall in such a way that this year's deficit budget won't be repeated next year.

On Monday night, the district's chief finance officer, Rettia Stanfield, shared the detailed budget proposal with school board members. If the $12.1 million proposed budget is approved later this week, it will represent a deficit of approximately $350,000, Stanfield said.

The budget represents a significant financial loss to the school district, including a $215,000 cut in city appropriations.

If a 5-mill tax referendum for schools is approved Sept. 11, that amount could be restored, but not for this year. The money would not be available for the school district until October 2008, when the new fiscal year begins.

"This isn't the first year we've had to operate with a deficit budget, but we just make cuts wherever we can, and hopefully, where they hurt the least," Stanfield said. "We desperately need this millage increase."

If approved, the tax will generate $214,000 for the district. A mill in Sheffield collects less money than in any other Shoals city at $40,000 in assessed property value. It would mean Sheffield's school district would collect 24 mills in advalorem tax.

When a renewal tax was overwhelmingly approved earlier this year, Sheffield schools Superintendent Richard Gardner said it was an encouraging indication of how Sheffield residents feel about their schools.

"I'm positive that our city is supportive of schools, and I'm confident that this tax will pass," he said. "To pass with another 88 percent vote of the people would be wonderful."

The district is beginning a campaign to get the message out about voting in favor of the tax.

Gardner said letters will be sent home with students to their parents, as will flyers, closer to election time. In addition, he said recorded messages will go out via telephone to the homes of Sheffield students.

He also urged board members to take the message to any group with which they are affiliated.

"The people we want to come out and vote are the ones we serve in our district," Gardner said.

TimesDaily staff writer Lisa Singleton-Rickman can be reached at 740-5735 or lisa.singleton-rickman@timesdaily.com.