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Kight wins Exchange Club speech contest
speech contest 1
South Effingham High School senior Rebecca Kight, right, stands with Effingham Exchange Club president Julian Pace. - photo by Photo by Pat Donahue
Staff Report
Updated: Mar 30, 2016, 7:30 PM
Published: Mar 30, 2016, 7:32 PM

Rebecca Kight, a senior at South Effingham High School, won the Exchange Club of Effingham County’s speech contest. The theme was citizenship, and Kight drew on the experiences and lessons she’s learned from her mother, a lieutenant with the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office. 
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)
Updated: Jun 20, 2025, 1:18 PM
Published: Jun 20, 2025, 12:51 PM
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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