There are a number of folks urging their fellow Hall Countians to vote Tuesday against extending a special purpose local option sales tax for education expenses.

They make their case by saying we don't need any more taxes these days; that SPLOST money sometimes doesn't get used as intended; that these "special" taxes never end and are continually renewed for new projects; that money for such needs should come from elsewhere; and that Buford schools should find their own funding source outside of Hall .

All are valid concerns, to a point. But there is one key argument in favor of a "yes" vote: Our children need it. Badly.

The recent economic downturn and shortfall in tax revenues have led school systems to cut spending drastically. Furlough days have led to shortened class times and larger class sizes have hampered students scrambling to maintain higher academic standards.

The school-focused SPLOST has been a key tool in helping the Gainesville and Hall County systems grow with the population over the last 14 years since it was first approved in 1997.

The money raised from the 1-percent sales tax has built or renovated 14 schools, four in the city and 10 in the county. This came at a time when Hall's population grew quickly, with 800 to 1,000 students added annually for more than a decade.

The only way to keep up with that growth was to fund a slew of new schools. SPLOST allowed for that growth without an accompanying hike in school taxes.

The renewal of the "E-SPLOST" is expected to raise another $130 million over five years, to be divided between Hall County, Gainesville and Buford. The money would be used to renovate or replace aging buildings, roofs, electrical and heating and AC units; add classroom space, buses and books; and upgrade classroom technology.

In many cases, this work isn't optional. Fair Street Elementary School is 75 years old and falling apart. Students can't learn when they're shivering in the cold or dodging raindrops from a leaky ceiling.

Yet money for such capital projects isn't available in the school's general funds. Budgets already are pared to the basic needs. These expenses go above and beyond.

And there is another key reason to approve SPLOST besides having money to spend; earning money to pay down debt. Renewing the penny tax will allow school systems to pay off existing bonds. Hall County must pay $9.7 million in bond debt by 2013 and 2014, some of that remaining from construction of West Hall High School more than two decades ago. Gainesville owes about $5.1 million by 2018.

For those who abhor deficit spending and do not believe in piling up debt, this tax helps alleviate that worry. The more debt the systems can eliminate, the more money they will free up to pay for current classroom and staffing needs.

Yet if SPLOST fails, property taxes may go up just to handle the debt burden. Plus, the necessary construction work on crumbling schools will have to be paid for somehow, likely through more long-term bonds, which means more debt and higher taxes down the road.

So we'll be paying for the school projects either way; it's just a question of how best to do so by sharing the burden equally.

Another argument for a special sales tax over other methods of funding is that much of the money raised comes from nonresidents, folks who spend money while working or passing through our county. Anyone from Atlanta headed to Lake Lanier over the summer or zipping through to see leaves in the fall will be adding money to the pot every time they stop for a drink and a snack at a local store.

Yet the idea of SPLOST leaves a bad taste in the mouths of some. The controversy over location of a North Hall library last year led many to question whether any such sales taxes should be approved, whatever the intended projects. The lack of specificity over the location of the library remains an open wound.

But this SPLOST is completely different, targeted for school use only. It is not an additional penny, just a continuation of the original tax approved in 1997, the same red cent applied to a different list of needs. And in this case, the projects themselves are clearly spelled out so voters can make an informed choice.

If Hall County and Gainesville are to grow and prosper in the future, good schools are vital. They improve the quality of life for existing residents and help lure new businesses to the area. Industries won't relocate to a community with underperforming schools any more than they will to one with bad roads or weak infrastructure.

If we are to grow our economy and attract commercial growth to help share our tax burden, we can't skimp on education. Children educated in our schools today will become the leaders and workers of tomorrow. If we prepare them well, their future and ours will be more secure.

By some indications, it could be a close vote. A poll on gainesvilletimes.com this week favored the anti-SPLOST forces, while pro-tax letters were the majority on the Opinion page in recent days. Neither is scientific nor can predict the outcome, but rest assured, your vote will count.

We urge Hall voters to put aside their concerns over the other SPLOST programs and focus on our current school needs. A "yes" vote will open the door to managed growth without incurring further debt or a hike in property tax hikes. A "no" vote will send a signal that we no longer wish to move forward.

We hope you will cast your vote with an eye toward the future, not the past, and renew this important sales tax.