I find it odd that no serious alternative discussion about Tuscumbia's revenue problems want to surface. The fact that the area and country have seen a economic rebound for the past 5 years along with a significant investment by an individual (Robbins) has still left the city in a "barely getting by" state.
Officials are quick to blame road closings/construction as the culprit when it is clear that the formula for Tuscumbia as as stand alone entity getting sales tax revenue is not going to improve. Serious discussions about the future of this city and Sheffield need to focus on the realities of the marketplace and how revenue generating retailers think and make decisions on where they locate - think density.
The time has come to seriously discuss consolidation and its positives. Longtime residents are quick to look at the preceived negatives while ignoring the furture positives which tie into the market realities.
Identies will not be lost with consolidation. Tuscumbia will still have a local geographic area called Tuscumbia, Sheffield will still have a local geographic area called Sheffield. The greater gain is leveraging the unique attributes of each area for the greater good and survival of the old and young (which we talk about but are not willing to make the necessary changes to keep them here).
We keep thinking that each of the cities are some great, large entity that can be self sustaining against each other. The reality is because we are a "sale tax" revenue state we can not expect Wal-Mart, Walgreens and others to be in each of the cities. It just won't happen.
As long as we still in the current mentality, we will have under paid police and other deficient government services that are key elements to attracting outsiders into our area that have much higher expectations. Outside investment will only come when we change our ways not on "wishes".
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