Effingham County Board of Education members have given tentative approval to a fiscal year 2016 budget that calls for cost of living raises for system employees.

The budget is estimated at $91.3 million in revenues and expenditures. Early projections put revenues at just above $88 million and spending at $92.8 million.

Also included in the budget are new teaching positions, new assistant principals for the middle schools and a new technology position, according to Superintendent Randy Shearouse. The proposed millage rate is 16.435, which is also the rollback rate. That means there will not be a property tax increase for the school board revenue.

“There may be a few changes to our budget before the final one is approved in June,” Shearouse said, “but we are well on our way.”
The school system is anticipating receiving $60 million from state sources and approximately $26.8 million from local sources, such as property

taxes. Payments in lieu of taxes are expected to account for $1.75 million, and equity transfers will make up the remaining $2.44 million.

The school system’s capital projects funds are projected to accumulate $7.8 million for the coming fiscal year.

Instruction will consume the lion’s share of expenses, nearly $62.5 million. Maintenance and operations are expected to cost $6.3 million, and school administration is pegged at $5.9 million. Transportation is anticipated to cost more than $4.4 million, and Shearouse said the school system continues to look for new bus drivers.

The county’s real and personal property tax digest, which fell by 14 percent from 2010 to 2012, has regained nearly half of its lost value. The digest stood at nearly $1.8 billion in 2010 but dropped to $1.53 billion in 2012. It is now at $1.64 billion.

The digest for motor vehicles, once at $145 million for 2013, is now at $87.7 million.

Each mill on the property tax digest generates roughly $1.5 million in property tax revenue.

School board members will set the millage at their June 18 meeting and will hold a public hearing regarding their FY16 budget at that meeting.

The current budget, adopted in June 2014, was set at $88.7 million.