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Registration for Nov. 3 elections ends Monday
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Voters who want to take part in November’s special election for the House District 159 seat must be registered to vote no later than Oct. 5.

The non-partisan special election has no party primary.  However, each candidate’s party affiliation will be listed on the ballot.

The election for House District 159 will occur in portions of Chatham and Effingham counties. Ann Purcell of Rincon, a former state representative, and Jesse Tyler of Rincon are running for the vacated seat of Buddy Carter, who is running for a state Senate seat. Polls will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Nov. 3.

Springfield, Rincon and Guyton will hold municipal elections Nov. 3. The mayor’s office is up for grabs in Springfield, as incumbent Barton Alderman is not seeking another term. Wanda Laning and Jeff Northway will square off for the mayor’s seat.  

In Rincon, Mayor Ken Lee will face off with former mayor George Saraf. Guyton’s city alderman spots are uncontested, with Ulysses Eaton continuing in his post 3 seat and Michael Johnson running unopposed in post 4.

Rincon’s city council race will see incumbents Scott Morgan and Levi Scott vying to keep their seats against newcomers Joe Atkins and Teresa Witt and former councilman Frank Owens. In Springfield, incumbents Jeff Ambrose, Charles Hinley and Kenny Usher will seek to retain their seats while Allen Parker will challenge for one of those seats.

Voters can request an absentee ballot from their county registrar’s office through the close of business, 5 p.m., on Oct. 30. Absentee ballots must be returned to the county registrar by the close of polls on election day. Photo ID is not required when voting by mail.

To download an absentee ballot request form, visit: www.sos.ga.gov/elections.

Voter registration forms can be obtained at the Effingham registrar’s office at 284 Highway 119 South in Springfield or from the Secretary of State’s Web site: http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/voter_registration/voter_reg_app.htm.

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.

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.