Voters go to polls today

SHEFFIELD - School Superintendent Richard Gardner said the issue is simple. He said the city school system needs an increase in property tax millage to create a more level playing field for Sheffield children.

He said the increase is needed for the city to maintain its quality school system.

"A mill is only worth, in our situation, about $40,000," Gardner said. "You go to Florence, a mill is worth about $275,000. It takes six of our mills to make one of theirs."

Sheffield voters will go to the polls today and vote on a request by the Sheffield Board of Education to raise the city's millage rate from 19 mills to 24.

The increase would mean that the owner of a $100,000 home would have to pay about $50 more per year in property taxes.

The board of education asked for the increase to restore about nearly $200,000 in appropriations that had been cut by the city.

The board is operating with nine fewer employees this year than last because, in part, to a reduction in funding.

Personnel makes up 75-80 percent of the school system's total expenses, Gardner said.

If the millage increase passes, Gardner said he hopes the school system can keep staffing levels where they are now.

He said staffing levels will be affected by state-mandated teacher pay and retirement increases as well as increasing insurance rates.

While the majority of the school system's money comes from the state, Sheffield City Clerk Clayton Kelly said schools also receive money from the Urban Tax Equivalent from the city's utility department and from ad valorem taxes.

City schools will receive $144,644 this year from the Urban Tax Equivalent, which is money utility departments pay in lieu of property taxes, Kelly said.

Kelly said revenue from the 5 mill increase would not be available until October 2008.

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