Beecher City Board Approves Effingham County Tax Swap Proposal

Beecher City school board members have given their approval to placing a county tax swap proposal on the March primary election ballot.

The proposal is to abate property taxes and to raise the county sales tax rate by 1%.  The funds generated by the sales tax increase could be used for new construction and building renovation.

Board member Jeff Kline voted against putting the proposal on the ballot.

The Beecher City board earlier voted to place a similar measure on the ballot in the portion of the school district that lies in Shelby County.

Board members also passed the tax levy for the new fiscal year, and further discussed a greenhouse approved for construction behind the northeast corner of the junior-senior high school building.  The Beecher City FFA Chapter is contacting businesses and community members for cash, materials and volunteer labor on the project.