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County hoping to drive transportation forward
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Patrick Donahue
Editor
Updated: Feb 9, 2009, 11:07 PM
Published: Feb 9, 2009, 10:59 PM

Effingham County commissioners are trying to steer a course they believe may help push several road projects along.

The county is working on putting together a local transportation board that would bring in representatives of several other governments and entities.

“Time is of the essence here,” commission Chairman Dusty Zeigler said.

Commissioners first heard the plan for a transportation board at their Nov. 4 meeting. As drawn up, it will consist of the mayors of the three municipalities and the chairmen of the county commission, industrial development authority and the board of education. It also will have two citizen representatives.

“Its purpose is to create coordinated planning for transportation,” County Administrator David Crawley said. “I think it’s important we work with our citizens to make those decisions we will be facing.”

The three mayors have said they want to be on the board, Zeigler said.

“The sooner we get this organized, the better we can present our case,” Commissioner Myra Lewis said.

Crawley asked commissioners if they wanted to move ahead with a Georgia Southern University-led study that would cost approximately $12,000. The cost to the county for its share of the information needed would be about $5,000 to $6,000, Crawley said.

“It would be beneficial,” he said. “Our concern is what the Department of Transportation will do. We still don’t know
what information they’re looking for. More data is always beneficial, especially if it’s positive data.

“It would be great if they were prioritizing every project in the state based on this model.”

Said Zeigler: “It strengthens our argument.”

Crawley also said the study won’t just benefit the push for the Effingham Parkway but could yield data that would help other initiatives.

“But to move it forward, you’re going to have to have the data,” Commissioner Verna Phillips said.

Effingham County representatives met with state Rep. Vance Smith, chairman of the House Transportation Committee during  Effingham Day at the Capitol, but Smith didn’t have a working knowledge of Effingham Parkway. The parkway is part of House Bill 277, the Georgia 2020 Transportation Act, which has been read in the House of Representatives. Under the bill, several road projects, including the Last Mile from Jimmy DeLoach Parkway to the port, are identified for funding under sales tax mechanisms that have to be approved.

“I don’t know if it will stay there,” Crawley said.

Crawley said the state DOT gave approval for the grading and base paving of Old Augusta Road, which is scheduled to start next month. The county is still in talks with Georgia-Pacific on phase 2 of the road.

Commissioners also approved a resolution for a letter of thanks to Raybon Anderson. Anderson announced earlier this week he will be resigning his post as a member of the state transportation board representing the 12th Congressional District, which includes Effingham County. His replacement will be chosen by the state legislators whose districts fall within the 12th U.S. House District.
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.
Updated: Sep 19, 2025, 12:52 AM
Published: Sep 19, 2025, 12:53 AM

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.