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Georgia taxpayers can give their HEART to rural hospitals
Pediatric Center ribbon cutting
The recent grand opening of the new pediatric center in Springfield was made possible in part due to Georgia HEART funding. (File photo.)
Updated: Jun 1, 2023, 2:00 PM
Published: May 31, 2023, 7:14 PM

Special to the Herald

 

SPRINGFIELD – Effingham County Health System has a chance to get a larger piece of an extremely helpful pie.

Georgia has afforded its citizens the opportunity to pay their state income taxes – an expenditure that they are required to make -- by contributing to eligible rural hospitals to improve the financial condition and patient offerings in rural communities. This rural tax credit program is called Georgia HEART.

The Georgia General Assembly has capped Georgia HEART at $75 million in 2023. That is up $15 million from a year ago.

“The program has been so successful,” said LaMeisha Hunter Kelly, Effingham Health System’s executive director of strategic business development and governmental relations. “Last year, we thought the credits would last until around October. Then an email came out that said, ‘Push the program because we think the credits are going to be used up in September.’

“The credits were actually used up in July.”

Kelly expects this year’s allotment of credits to run out in June.

“That’s why we are really pushing it,” Kelly said.

Credits are awarded by the Georgia Department of Revenue on a first-come, first-served basis.

Effingham Health System has received $2.2 million through Georgia HEART since 2017. Participating hospitals are eligible for up to $4 million annually.

“We could do a better job (in Effingham County),” Kelly said. “Dayle Burns said it best. Understand that this isn’t us asking you to go into your pocket and pull out new money. This is money that you already have and for those that pay taxes to the state of Georgia – whether it’s individually or as a business – you are still paying that money but (Georgia HEART) lets you direct where those taxes go instead of just the general tax coffers.”

Effingham Health System has made good use of its Georgia HEART proceeds. The largest chunks came from Ameris Bank and Renasant Bank.

“The 2022 funds were used for pediatrics and all the 2023 funds will be used for pediatrics – not in terms of operations but in terms of facilities,” Kelly said. “That’s what assisted in the build-out and furnishings.”

Effingham Health System’s new Pediatric Center features 5,100 square feet of space. It has seven rooms, allowing staff to see 56 patients per day. The former pediatrics center contained only 400 square feet.

In 2021, Effingham Health System used Georgia HEART funds in support of another significant project.

“The hospital needed to update our HVAC systems,” Kelly said. “We put in individual units in each of the rooms in the long-term care center. We had to replace our air-handler units and we had to upgrade our HVAC and hood in our kitchen per regulations …

“That project cost $1.3 million with all the pieces.”

Georgia HEART tax credit applications are available at www.georgiaheart.org. Call 912-754-7567 for more information.
Effingham County to Vote Tuesday on $60 Million Budget with Tax Rollback and Major Projects
Effingham budget
Paul Kasko
Updated: Jun 16, 2025, 1:35 PM
Published: Jun 16, 2025, 1:36 PM

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.