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Victim Witness backs 'Jeans for Justice'
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Sandi Van Orden
Effingham Herald
Updated: May 10, 2007, 9:25 AM
Published: Apr 16, 2007, 8:51 PM

Two groups are asking local employers to allow employees to wear jeans as part of “Jeans for Justice” on April 27.

This will be the third year for the Effingham County Victim Witness Assistance Program to take part in “Jeans for Justice.”

“We always do it during the week of National Crime Victims Rights Week,” director Glenda King said, noting that week runs from April 22-28. “We always choose a Friday because most places if they allow you to wear jeans or denim or alternate clothing, it’s usually on a Friday.”

King said she saw the idea for “Jeans for Justice” from a packet of ideas from the U.S. Department of Justice for victims’ week. King said employees who choose to participate donate $5 to ECVWAP in order to wear jeans to work that Friday.

“I thought that would work well for us because it doesn’t require anyone to meet anywhere or go anywhere or participate in anything other than being comfortable on a particular day of the week,” she said, “and enabling them to make a donation to a local agency that provides services to the community.”

Fifteen groups participated last year and raised approximately $2,000 for victim witness.

King said examples for the use of the money would be to change locks, give a gas card or food voucher and emergency situations where there is not time to get a check signed.

King said she would prefer employers contact victim witness before April 27 so she can give them stickers for the participating employees to wear, “particularly for places that have a dress code or professional dress, and it’s obvious they are not dressed professionally on that day,” she said.

She said there have been groups participate on another day. If the date conflicts with another scheduled event King said it is flexible. The date they have is chosen to bring awareness to crime victims’ rights.

The Rape Crisis Center of the Coastal Empire is also holding a fundraiser using “Jeans for Justice.”

Kelli Arden, a board member for the Rape Crisis Center, said she has participated in “Jeans for Justice” for several years at other locations.

Arden said “Jeans for Justice” sprung from an Italian judge’s comments to a woman who had been raped that she deserved it because her jeans were too tight.

“The next day, all the women judges wore jeans, and it was to protest and say a woman never asks to be raped and it doesn’t matter what she wears it’s never her fault,” Arden said. “Because of that and because of that judge we now do ‘Jeans for Justice’ day every year.”

The Rape Crisis Center of Savannah has an office in the Effingham United Way Service Center.

“They will come to call for Effingham citizens,” Arden said. “They will come up here to take care of them. To be this little office in Savannah they have a lot of volunteers and do a lot of work. It’s just so important to support that.”
Arden said participants donate $5 to $20 to wear jeans. The group has speakers available to talk to groups about preventing sexual assault.

For more information about participating for the Effingham County Victim Witness call Glenda King or Brandie McMahon at 754-7460 or e-mail at victimwit@planters.net or brandie_mcmahon@yahoo.com.
For more information about participating for the Rape Crisis Center of the Coastal Empire call Arden at 754-5800 or 754-2041 or e-mail at karden@firsteffingham.com.
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.