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THE ISSUE

Sheffield voters will have the opportunity on Tuesday to shore up the finances of the city school system when they are asked to approved a 5 mill property tax earmarked for education.

Sheffield schools need an influx of cash in order to maintain a sound educational program. The school system lost money about a year ago when the city council cut more than $200,000 in appropriations the schools had been receiving.

To cope with the losses, the school board has nine less employees than it did a year ago. Five of those employees were certified staff. Those cuts were made through attrition, but further cuts, should they become necessary, could be harmful to Sheffield's educational

program.

So, the school board is asking city residents to approve 5 mills of property tax in a referendum on Tuesday. If approved, the mills would generate about $200,000 a year, which would offset the loss of the city appropriation.

Voters have a clear choice for the future of their city: They can approve the additional 5 mills - which will cost those with property assessed at $100,000 about another $50 a year, or less than $5 a month - and maintain a good school system, or they can force the school board to start making cuts that will affect the quality of education and ultimately affect the city's ability to attract new businesses.

Sheffield has been in financial decline for years because major roads have bypassed its business district. As a result, sales tax collections are down; so are property values. A mill in Sheffield generates less money than it does in neighboring cities. Thus, city government is struggling to maintain basic services and the school system must be extremely careful with its money.

So far, efforts to revive the business district have met with mixed results. The city council is considering rezoning property around town to create more retail opportunities, but turning around the city's fortunes will take time.

No one likes paying more taxes, but the alternative for Sheffield schools is even less attractive. Another 5 mills is a small price to pay for a good school system.