SPRINGFIELD, Ga — Effingham County voters narrowly rejected renewal of the county's 1-cent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax Tuesday, turning down a measure projected to generate about $200 million over six years for roads, drainage and other local projects. The referendum failed by just 140 votes, with 12,440 voting no and 12,300 voting yes. Voters overwhelmingly approved a second referendum, the Local Homeowners Incentive Adjustment Grant, or LHIAG, with 22,079 voting yes and 2,739 voting no. The measure allows Effingham County to move faster on Project Zero, its plan to phase out the county government's share of property taxes on qualifying homes over three years. It does not immediately eliminate those taxes, and school district property taxes would remain. In County Commission races, Republican incumbents Roger Burdette and Jamie DeLoach held on to their seats. The District 5 race remained unresolved Wednesday morning as elections officials continued reviewing write-in ballots. Democrat David Dillie also defeated longtime incumbent independent Bill Hitchens in State House District 161, which includes South Effingham. Dillie received 9,183 votes to Hitchens' 5,841. Tuesday's election drew 25,621 voters, representing 50.33% of Effingham County's 50,909 registered voters. All 20 precincts reported. The District 5 County Commission race remained unresolved Wednesday morning as elections officials continued reviewing write-in ballots. Republican incumbent Phil Kieffer…
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