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THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL THURSDAY. AUGUST 20. 2009 — PAGE 9A
Schools .cont’dfrom 1A
reserve remains from last school year. It should have
that figure by September. Then, it awaits the county tax
digest, which could drop five percent.
“Until we find out about what the local tax digest is
going to be, we don’t know how much money we’re
going to have to deal with,” McGhee told the school
board during its meeting last week. “This deficit could be
more. It could be less.”
A third factor is the likelihood of more teacher fur
loughs in the second semester, which would mean a
reduction of $171,000. Madison County teachers have
been furloughed three days this semester.
“We’ve been told that’s a done deal, that three more
days are coming,” McGhee said.
For now, school leaders wait and hope for the best-case
scenario —a few thousand more dollars in reserves due
than expected and the county digest not dipping as much
as anticipated. Paired with the all-but-certain furloughs
next semester, that combination could reduce the deficit
to below $100,000.
“That’s something that our fund balance could handle
pretty easily,” McGhee said.
As for more dire scenarios, McGhee didn’t want to
speculate but said layoffs are a last resort this year. That
could change next year, however, should the funding situ
ation continues to worsen.
“May we have to look at that as we plan for next year?
That’s a possibility,” McGhee said. “But we'll spend our
reserve all the way down if we have to at this point in
time before we look at laying off folks right now.”
McGhee stressed that he doesn’t want to worry people
unnecessarily.
“We still have students to educate,” he said. “We still
have a lot of work to do around here and that’s where
we need to be concentrating our efforts ... I don’t want
to start throwing things our there that may not come to
pass.”
The state’s cuts in the middle of the year continue to
frustrate school leaders who base budgets according to
what state tells them they’re slated to receive.
“You’re into your financial year, you’re counting on
that money and they come and cut that money away from
you,” McGhee said.
Even if Madison County weathers this deficit, the
financial outlook remains ominous. The governor could
always opt for more cuts after the new year, which
McGhee said is a possibility.
“We can make all the plans we want for the money
we’ve got now, and then we may have something else that
we have to address,” he said.
Overall, these cuts add up for a Madison County School
System already operating with a “very lean” spending
plan, McGhee said.
“There may be some that want to debate the topic out
there, but Madison County is very lean compared to other
school systems our size,” McGhee said.
Hull to target voters again via mail
By Ben Munro
ben@mainstreetnews.com
Hull believes it’s uncov
ered the mystery of tapping
a voter base.
Based on the success of
its June special election,
the city will again reach
out to its voters via mail to
generate interest in its next
election.
The letters, this time, will
note that the seats of Mayor
Paul Elkins and council
man Paul Cook are up for
grabs.
The election is Nov. 3 with
qualifying dates on Aug. 31
and Sept. 1-2. Qualifying
times are 9-10:30 a.m. on
Aug. 31, 5-6:30 p.m. on
Sept. 1 and 4-5:30 p.m. on
Sept. 2 - all information
which will be included in
the packet Hull sends its
voters.
The city debuted the mail
ing idea prior to the June
special election, eventually
luring Brandon Fortson and
Randell A.C. King to vie
for Hull’s empty council
spot. Fortson went on to
win the seat, 28-6.
Elkins credits the mailing
drive for filling that spot.
“I think we’ll all agree
that we’ve finally found
the way to reach the vot
ers, haven’t we Brandon?”
Mayor Paul Elkins said to
the new council member at
Monday night’s meeting.
If elections are held —
challengers must qualify
for that to happen — early
voting is slated for Oct. 13
and 20. Advanced voting is
Oct. 27.
All early and advanced
voting times are 6:30-8
p.m. at the Hull Civic Club.
Voting runs from 7 a.m. to
7 p.m. on election day at
the civic club.
Both terms of office begin
Jan. 1,2010 and run through
Dec. 31, 2013.
Hull intends to pass along
more than just voter infor
mation when it mails city’s
voters en masse.
It will also include its
directory of important
numbers, which Elkins said
is gaining in popularity.
“We’ve had some good
comments on the numbers,”
he said.
Hull will also include a
note encouraging citizens
to participate in the 2010
U.S. Census.
Several on the council
believe the city’s popula
tion exceeds the projection
of 161 and needs to count
ed accurately since much of
the town’s revenue through
local option sales taxes,
grants and other funding is
based on that number.
“That’s the only way
we’re going to get addi
tional funding for our little
town," Elkins said.
Councilman Wayne
Melton — who thinks the
city’s population might be
double that of what it’s list
ed — agreed.
“If we could actually dou
ble four funds coming in,
we’d have a lot of money,”
he said.
Madison Co. Library announces Aug. news, events
The Madison County
Library has announced its
August news and events:
•The fall book sale is just
around the corner, Sept.
18-26. “Please mark your
calendar now,” library staff
members said. “Volunteers
are needed for all phases
of the sale. We need you
now to help sort and box
the donated books for the
sale. Able bodies are also
needed just before the sale
begins for set up, during the
sale and on Sunday, Sept. 27
for pack up.” Those wanting
to volunteer can call Sara
Carter at 706-795-2952 or
email her at carters6@juno.
com.
•“Thank you to Mike and
Linda Moak for running the
July Fourth Friends booth,”
library staff members said.
•“Our Summer Reading
Program was a huge success
this year,” library staff mem
bers said. “The kids of all
ages got creative. We thank
all those that took part in our
programs and brought your
children to the library.”
• Autobiographotocollage:
Organizers describe this
as a story, without words,
made in pictures, which tells
about you, created by you.
What color are you? What
pattern? What would you
do or be if there were no
impossibilities? Images and
tools will be provided: you
bring the inspiration. No
age restrictions: for anyone
interested. Saturday, Aug.
29, at 2 p.m.
•Pajama story time:
Thursday, Aug. 27, at 7
p.m. “It’s fun to wear paja
mas to the library,” library
staff members said. “Bring
a friend and enjoy sooth
ing stories and a nighttime
snack. All ages are invit
ed.” The program is led by
Jennifer Ivey.
•Young adult book dis
cussion: YABDG will meet
Wednesday, Aug. 26, at
4:30. The group will read
The Wind Singer by William
Nicholson and “eating and
talking and celebrating
Jennifer’s birthday.” Cake
will be served.
•Preschool and toddler
story time: Your child’s first
introduction to reading: read
with them and watch them
succeed. Story time includes
stories, finger-plays, songs
and crafts for literacy-based
fun. It is open to children
ages 2 to 5. This month’s
themes are: school, oceans
and birthdays. Story time
will be held outside Friday,
August 21 st if the weather
permits.
•Library sewing group:
The group is taking a sum
mer sabbatical and will meet
again beginning Sept. 2.
The Madison County Journal is your source for
local news. Call 706-795-2567 to subscribe.
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