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Guyton chief asks for disorderly conduct law
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Patrick Donahue
Editor
Updated: Jul 8, 2008, 9:00 AM
Published: Jun 16, 2008, 9:31 PM

Guyton Police Chief Randy Alexander is hoping to get to enforce another law and asked the city council to look at putting it on the books.

Alexander has asked council members about a disorderly conduct ordinance for the city that would allow him and his officers to do something about those who are drunk and disorderly or who use abusive and vulgar language in certain places and times.

“The state has one,” Alexander said of the disorderly conduct statute, “but it is very vague. The state guidelines are fine, but there are gray areas.”

City attorney Ramona Bartos said the state’s ordinance harkens back to the mid 1800s, and its language and its prohibitions reflect its age.

“It is Victorian in its language,” she said. “It is very difficult for a lay person to understand.”

According to the state statute, first written in 1863, disorderly conduct includes: “acts in a violent or tumultuous manner toward another person whereby such person is placed in reasonable fear of the safety of such person’s life, limb or health; acts in a violent or tumultuous manner toward another person whereby the property of such person is placed in danger of being damaged or destroyed; without provocation, uses to or of another person in such other person’s presence, opprobrious or abusive words which by their very utterance tend to incite to an immediate breach of the peace, that is to say, words which as a matter of common knowledge and under ordinary circumstances will, when used to or of another person in such other person’s presence, naturally tend to provoke violent resentment, that is, words commonly called ‘fighting words.’”

Council members also may be busy figuring out how to handle a request to turn a mobile home into an adult day care center.

Lenora Hunter and Freda Holland currently have R-1 zoning for a manufactured home they are refurbishing and asked for rezoning to R-4.  Bartos said R-2 zoning would be appropriate and that the city’s R-4 doesn’t cover their request.

Hunter and Holland said their plan is for people to drop off their senior citizens at their business for the day and to pick them up again in the evening.

“All I can do is interpret the law. We don’t have a definition for a convalescent center or a nursing home,” Bartos said. “My recommendation is you need an ordinance. These uses are not contemplated under our R-4. The issue I see is not the use, but the manufactured home.”

Said Alderman Phillip King: “We’ve got some work to do.”
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.