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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. 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