Voters in Nash and Edgecombe counties missed a chance on Tuesday to put some much-needed money into their schools, literally for a fraction of a cent.

Voters in both counties – and in 16 other counties in North Carolina – said "No" to the prospects of raising the sales tax by one-quarter of one cent. If it had been approved, the increase would have meant an extra penny of tax on every $4 worth of goods. The tax would not apply to sales of food or vehicles.

That tiny penny could have done a world of good for local school administrators, however. Nash and Edgecombe schools have very real needs easily visible from the driver's seat should you drive by one of the older buildings.

Without the extra quarter-cent, school administrators and county commissioners will have to hunt for other ways to pay for school improvements, including the much-discussed Rocky Mount High School. A little sacrifice on the part of voters could have paid off tremendously for students today and tomorrow.

The issue can be revisited. County commissioners can put the tax on the ballot again in a future election. Or they can begin considering what few homeowners want to hear – a property tax increase.

Given today's economy, no one wants to pay more money at the checkout line. But education is such an important instrument in the quality of life of a community that one quarter of a cent was nothing short of a sound investment.

Here's hoping the voters of Nash and Edgecombe counties think so, too, should we have a chance to reconsider the proposal.