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Absentee ballots for elections are available starting Thursday
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ATLANTA — Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel encouraged Georgians to request an absentee ballot for the July 15 general primary election and the Nov. 4 general election.

Registered voters in Georgia can request an absentee ballot for the general primary and the general election beginning Thursday.

“We will likely see high turnout in this year’s general primary and general election. That could mean extended wait times at some precincts,” Handel said. “Absentee voting is a convenient way for voters to exercise their civic duty without having to visit a polling place on Election Day.”

Registered voters can request an absentee ballot from their county registrar by completing the application located on the Secretary of State’s Web site: http://www.sos.ga.gov/elections/ElectionCenter08.htm.

Voters then submit the form to their county registrar by mail or fax. Contact information for county registrars can be found at: http://www.sos.ga.gov/elections/ElectionCenter08.htm.

Voters can request an absentee ballot beginning 180 days prior to an election without providing a reason. Absentee ballots will be mailed 45 days prior to federal, state and county elections and 21 days prior to elections featuring only municipal candidates.

Voters must submit a separate absentee ballot application for each election, unless they are physically disabled, of advanced age, or exempted by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

Voters participating by absentee ballot by mail are not required to provide photo identification. Absentee ballots must be received by the county registrar by Election Day.

Georgians with more questions regarding elections and absentee ballots can call the Secretary of State’s Elections Division at (404) 656-2871 or visit http://www.sos.ga.gov/elections/.

Effingham Schools Approve Property Tax Rate Increase
School Property Tax Rate Increase
Comparison of the property tax impact for Effingham County homeowners under the approved millage rate increase, showing the difference from fiscal year 2025 to 2026.

SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — The Effingham County Board of Education unanimously approved raising the property tax rate from 16.5 to 18.45 mills. For a homeowner with a $350,000 property, that’s about $22 more per month. The vote was 5-0.

Why the Increase is Needed
District officials said the adjustment is necessary to cover rising costs and remain competitive in attracting and retaining teachers and staff. More than 87% of the district’s budget goes to salaries and benefits for employees ranging from classroom teachers to bus drivers, nurses, counselors, paraprofessionals, and administrators.

Most of the increase is tied to an $8 million spike in required contributions to state benefit plans.

The state’s health and retirement benefits for certified employees — teachers — are going up 7% in 2026, finance director Lauren Cain, said. Benefits for non-certified employees — staff — are rising 36%. That’s a total of $8 million more in health and retirement benefits the district will have to cover.

Although the state is increasing funding to Effingham schools by $4 million, it will cover only about half the benefits hike, she said.

As of July 1, premiums for the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) have nearly doubled since FY2023, jumping from $945 to $1,885 per month per employee. In addition, the district’s contribution rate to the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) has increased from 20.78% to 21.91%.  

To help offset those rising costs, the district voted to raise the millage rate.

Millage Rate

Balancing Costs & Education
Superintendent Yancy Ford previously called the increase “an investment in every child’s future.” He said, “Smaller class sizes, highly qualified teachers, and strong support staff are all proven to raise student achievement. This millage rate increase allows us to continue building on our successes and to make sure every child in Effingham County has the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.”

Ford also acknowledged the strain on taxpayers. “We don’t want to put the taxpayers in this position next year,” he said. He promised to “dissect the budget” and search for ways to “lower costs” while still doing what’s best for students. “We know people are feeling it,” he added.

Fiscal Accountability & Academic Record
While the millage rate itself rises about 11.5%, higher property values mean overall revenue collections will increase nearly 26%. School leaders say the additional funds will help preserve Effingham’s strong academic record, which includes a 90.7% graduation rate, above-average reading scores in elementary grades, and SAT results that top both state and national averages.

Ford  emphasized accountability in managing taxpayer funds. Every dollar from this millage rate increase is an investment directly tied to student learning, he said.

Effingham Schools recently earned a 4.5 Financial Efficiency Star Rating from the Georgia Department of Education, ranking fourth out of 180 school systems statewide.

Public Concerns
About 20 residents attended the final public hearing before the vote. Several property owners, retirees on fixed incomes, and business owners voiced frustration over rising appraisals, cost of living increases, and tax abatements for industry.

Historical Millage Rate Chart

Looking Ahead: ESPLOST Vote

Looking ahead, the district is preparing to ask voters in November to approve another ESPLOST (Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax). If passed, funds would go toward capital projects such as facility upgrades and technology improvements.