Effingham County’s millage rate for the coming fiscal year has been set at 28.799.

County commissioners approved the rate at their June 23 meeting, with a rate of 8.337 for the unincorporated portion of the county. The school board approved its millage rate of 16.435 before the commissioners adopted their rate.

“We knew that rate would be between 8.335 and 8.422,” said county finance director Joanna Wright.

Last year’s millage rate for the unincorporated portion of the county was 8.422.

The commissioners also adopted a millage rate of 1.977 to provide for medical care and hospitalization of the indigent. Under its pact with the hospital authority for the hospital modernization project, the county provides $3.6 million annually.

The state constitution requires the Effingham Industrial Development Authority to receive 2 mills in property tax each year. The state’s property tax rate is declining from .25 mills and will be .05 for this year. It is expected to be eliminated next year.

Effingham’s real property digest is projected to grow from $1.42 billion in 2014 to $1.47 billion. While personal property will grow slightly from $155.97 million to $156.87 million, the motor vehicles digest is shrinking from $124 million to $87.7 million. The mobile homes category is decreasing from $17.8 million to $17.1 million, and timber is increasing from $10.8 million to $11 million.

The net digest is projected to grow from $1.53 billion to $1.55 billion. A final digest figure depends on the property value appeals that have been filed and not yet resolved.

“The levy will not change,” Wright said of the millage rates. “The digest itself may change.”

The county’s insurance premium refund of $1.9 million will go to the special tax district, fire protection, senior activity and sanitation.