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BoE opts to purchase vehicle for superintendent
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Effingham County Schools Superintendent Randy Shearouse may not be driving his pickup to school board meetings and other functions much longer.


Effingham County Board of Education members voted 3-0 to approve a bid from J.C. Lewis Ford for a Ford Expedition for Shearouse’s use. Board member Troy Alford, who works at J.C. Lewis but was not involved in the bid preparation, abstained from voting. Board members chose to buy the vehicle rather than continue to reimburse Shearouse for mileage and provide a vehicle allowance.


“It comes out about to the same in the end,” Chairman Lamar Allen said of the cost of the vehicle. “And it can be used for other purposes.”


The board chose the Ford, at a cost of $29,463, over three bids from Chevrolet dealerships that ranged from $32,375 to $40,426 for a Tahoe. School board members voted in favor of the Ford bid, provided the Expedition can be provided in a timely manner. They may revisit the bids if the vehicle isn’t delivered in time.


Currently, Shearouse’s mileage reimbursement is equivalent to the state rate, 56 cents per mile. With a school system-owned vehicle, he can fuel up at the county shop — which he can’t do with his personal pickup — and the county shop purchases gas at a much cheaper rate since it buys in bulk.

Effingham School Board Approves $203M budget with Potential Property Tax Increase
2026 budget
This chart illustrates how the Effingham County School District’s $203 million general fund is allocated for fiscal year 2026, including spending on salaries, benefits, transportation, health services, and safety and security. (Courtesy of Effingham School District)
The Effingham County Board of Education approved a $203 million fiscal year 2026 budget Thursday night, reflecting an 11% increase over last year. The rise is largely due to an $8 million spike in health and retirement benefit costs for employees. To help cover the shortfall, the district may raise the property tax millage rate, potentially increasing homeowners’ taxes by up to 12 percent.
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