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Will voters risk losing the quality of their children's education? As some Alachua County School programs and positions are on the brink of reductions and in come cases, elimination, the county's school board is urging voters to support the Voter-Approved Operating Millage on the November general election ballot. The operating millage would increase porperty taxes by half a mill or one mill for the next four yearsSchool Board member Virginia Chiles says this seems to be a last resort for the school board and at this points, it's the voters who can help improve the threatened school system.

Chiles said that the programs facing reduction include, art, music and other electives. Even availability of classroom materials will be limited. She said parents will definitely see the difference in quality of education by cuts. Chiles said the 6 to 14 million dollars generated through the operating millage would help save some programs, positions, and materials.

The proposed operating millage would go into effect 2009 and would continue for four years, at which point voters would have to reapprove it if necessary.