By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
East Georgia State College establishes Jack and Ruth Hill Scholarship Fund
Jack Hill
Sen. Jack Hill (1945-2020) - photo by Mark Lastinger/staff

East Georgia State College, along with the family of the late Jack and Ruth Ann Hill, has established a scholarship fund to honor the couple who passed away earlier this year. 

The Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Scholarship will award recipients up to $1,000 beginning in the fall of 2021. The scholarship will be available to students from Bulloch, Candler, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans and Tattnall counties — the same counties Hill represented in the Senate.

"As always, Senator and Mrs. Hill and the Hill family put the people of this great region first in establishing this generous scholarship fund. It will pay dividends as the students who receive this scholarship graduate from East Georgia State College and go on to become leaders in our community. East Georgia State College extends its deepest gratitude to the Hill family for this wonderful gift,” said Dr. Bob Boehmer, president of EGSC.

To apply for the scholarship, EGSC students must complete the application; be in good standing and enrolled in a degree program; have a GPA of 3.0 or higher; enrolled in 15 hours or more of coursework; and demonstrate strong community service.

Jack Hill graduated from Reidsville High School and Georgia Southern University. He was a grocer by trade and is remembered as a fair, honest and kind gentleman, willing to serve, get involved and make a difference. Jack and his wife, Ruth Ann, a retired elementary school teacher, had three children and seven grandchildren.

For three decades, Georgians benefited from the leadership of Jack Hill. The longest-serving member in the Georgia Senate qualified to run for his 16th term before his passing in April. Hill believed in East Georgia State College and proved that many times through support of the college’s needs on the Senate floor and by his presence on campus.

Additional details regarding the scholarship will be posted soon on EGSC's scholarship webpage: http://www.ega.edu/scholarships.

Effingham County to Vote Tuesday on $60 Million Budget with Tax Rollback and Major Projects
Effingham budget

SPRINGFIELD, Ga. – Effingham County is proposing an 18% increase to its fiscal year 2026 budget, largely driven by infrastructure spending through sales taxes, while simultaneously rolling back its millage rate to ease the burden on taxpayers.

Effingham County Finance Director Mark Barnes presented the $9 million increase during the Board of Commissioners' first reading of the budget on June 3 — a discussion-only session with no vote taken. Despite the sharp budget growth from $51 million to $60 million, Barnes emphasized that the increase stems from planned capital investments, not operational spending, and that the general fund remains balanced with healthy reserves.

Next Steps

The budget will be up for further discussion and possible adoption at the next commissioners meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 17 at the Effingham County Administrative Complex, 804 S. Laurel St., Springfield. The public is invited to attend.   

Key Takeaways 

Budget Growth and Capital Funding

  • The proposed 2026 budget increases by approximately $9 million (18%), primarily due to transfers to capital projects funded through SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) and TSPLOST (Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) approved by voters.

  • About $7 million in fund balance reserves will be used to support major projects — part of a multi-year savings strategy.

  • Overall, $192 million is designated for capital projects, including $71 million for roads, $40 million for water treatment facilities and $17 million for parks.

  • Key capital projects include a new wastewater treatment plant at Low Ground Road and a water treatment plant near McCall Road. Extensive road improvements include the widening of Goshen and Old Augusta roads, six roundabouts and 60 miles of road resurfacing. Ongoing park upgrades include Phase 2 of the Clarence E. Morgan Complex.

  • Barnes noted that while the budget is larger, the increase reflects targeted, long-term investments, not expanded day-to-day operations.

General Fund and Fiscal Stability

  • The general fund supports core services like the sheriff’s office, emergency medical services, courts, and elections.

  • Even with fund balance usage, reserves remain above policy minimums — a sign of sound financial planning, Barnes said.

  • The general fund includes $8 million in transfers to capital project accounts, plus funds for employee raises and new hires.

Millage Rate and Tax Relief

  • County millage rate proposed to roll back by 3%, from 5.596 to 5.428.
    “Residents are actually paying less county taxes for their primary residence than they did five years ago,” Tim Callanan, Effingham County manager, said.

  • The rollback ensures homestead taxable values increase by no more than 3%, stabilizing tax bills for property owners.

  • 28% decrease in the millage rate over five years, outpacing the 14% reduction required to match assessed value growth.

Personnel and Staffing Investments

  • 18.47 new full-time equivalent positions proposed for 2026.

    • At least nine are public service employees, Including two school resource officers, six firefighters, and an additional employee for emergency management.

  • 7% increase in the general fund personnel budget, including:

    • 3% cost-of-living adjustment for each county employee

    • 2% for merit-based increases

  • Fire department to add six positions, converting a station from volunteer to full-time.

Organizational Efficiency and Department Changes

  • Creation of three new departments staffed by reassigned personnel:

    • Public Engagement Services

    • County Engineering Services

    • Customer Support Services

SPLOST, TSPLOST, and Community Buy-In

SPLOST and TSPLOST remain essential funding tools, reducing reliance on property taxes.
“Voters approving the special taxes is why we can do $192 million in capital improvements without raising property taxes,” Callanan said.