The Effingham County Board of Education is considering increasing lunch prices by 25 cents next year.

Superintendent Randy Shearouse said the recommendation is because of an increase in costs.

“While the cost of food, fuel, shipping and labor has increased annually, there has only been a 15 cent increase in food prices over the last two years,” he said.

Shearouse said the increase is needed to maintain operations. The recommendation also would increase the price of breakfast by 15 cents. Under the proposal, breakfast prices would rise from $1.35 to $1.50 and lunch prices would rise to $1.75 for elementary students. Middle and high school students would pay $1.50 for breakfast and $2 for lunch.

Employee prices of $1.75 for breakfast and $2.75 for lunch would remain the same because it covers the cost to produce the meal.

BOE Chairman Lamar Allen said the board hates to increase prices.

“If you look at what we’re putting into it out of the other funds to keep it going, there’s not a whole lot of options especially now that we’re having to cut everywhere else,” he said.

Shearouse said the board has had to supplement the program the last few years because the prices were not covering costs.

“They are doing a little bit better this year,” he said. “They’ve made some changes and some cuts that are helping out, but there are still increases in food costs.”

He said the board has time to think about the cost increase since there were no plans to vote on the increase at the meeting.