A one percent sales tax failed in Effingham County by a 58 percent to 42 percent margin leaving Effingham and Teutopolis School Districts looking for answers on how to improve their buildings. Effingham Superintendent Mark Doan says out of the five buildings in their district the junior high needs the most work done. "It's passed it's usefulness in the shape that it's in. We still used air conditioners, window air conditioners in a 147,000 square foot building. So we need to address the hvac systems, plumbing, electrical to the walls really." Doan Said. Teutopolis Superintendent Bill Fritcher says a portion of their high school has similar problems and if the sales tax passed they were either renovating or rebuilding the older building. Fritcher says T-Town received more yes than no votes in the district and he says even though it didn't pass county-wide they have a few options. "We can look to property tax payers for some help, we could wait until March of 2018 and put the sales tax back on the ballot again, we can also just continue to do what we've been doing for years and that's just fixing things as they break."Fritcher said. Both superintendent say community engagement is key and informing the public on issues is important when it comes to increasing taxes. "When you get those three letters together T-A-X. You know people nobody likes taxes."
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