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State benefit changes lead to budget revision
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The Effingham County Board of Education approved a revised budget for fiscal year 2011 accommodating mandated changes in the State Health Benefits Plan enacted through the Georgia Department of Community Health.
 
“We did not budget this change,” Superintendent Randy Shearouse said to school board members at their Sept. 16 meeting. “This was not anything that anyone knew, so it is somewhat of a shock for our system.”
 
On Sept. 3, the BoE central office received a memo from the Georgia DCH informing a continuation of the employer percent of payroll for state health benefits at 21.955 percent of a teacher’s state base — a 3.420 percent increase from the FY 2011 appropriations bill — in order to assure the financial stability of the plan. The employer portion rate increase applies to all state departments, and this raises personnel expenditures by more than $700,000. 
 
But the memo stated that the increase will be in effect until March 2011 and will be cut back in the fourth quarter “so that school systems budgets are held harmless,” indicating that these funds will be restored with a reduction in employer health benefit contributions.
 
 
 
For the complete story see Tuesday's edition of the Herald. 

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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