Effingham County commissioners are proposing to lower the county’s millage rate, a move that could reduce the tax burden for homeowners and move officials closer to completing Project Zero, an initiative aimed at eliminating county property taxes.
The board is expected to vote on the measure Tuesday on a proposed millage rate of 4.976, down from 5.596 in 2025.
"Project Camellia has given us an opportunity to provide meaningful tax relief sooner than anticipated and take a major step toward our long term goal of eliminating county homestead property taxes," reads a statement from the county.
If approved county property owners could receive up to six mills of tax relief through a combination of the county rate reduction, the suspension of the Effingham
County Industrial Authority's 2-mill property tax levy and a 2-mill rollback approved by the Effingham County School District, which lowered its rate to 16.45.
"By leveraging the proceeds from the OpenAI transaction, we are in a unique position to deliver meaningful tax relief to our community while maintaining our high standards of academic excellence," said Superintendent Yancy Ford in a press release. "Our priorities remain supporting our educators and students and easing the financial burden on our residents."
What else is on the agenda?
Commissioners are also expected to vote on a request to rezone 45 acres from agriculture to residential use for a proposed 103-home subdivision on Goshen Road.
County mapping indicates the property contains just over 8 acres of freshwater wetlands but lies outside FEMA-designated flood hazard areas.
During a public hearing at the Aug. 11 Planning and Zoning Board meeting, board members discussed potential impacts on wetlands, infrastructure and the more than 5,000 residential units already approved countywide.
Some citizens raised concerns including the desire to preserve the rural character of the community, whether Goshen Road can handle additional motorists and the demand the property would put on public services.
The Planning and Zoning Board split 2-2 on whether to recommend approval, sending the request to county commissioners without a recommendation.
Guy Davidson, president of DAI Commercial, a brokerage management company, is listed as the agent on the rezoning application. The company has a number of properties in its portfolio, including Osprey Lake Plantation in Bluffton, S.C. and Norwood Chase in the Isle of Hope community in Savannah.
Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Effingham County to vote on millage rate, rezoning for residential
