About Flagpole. (Athens, Ga.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (May 11, 2011)
Mayor, Commission Vet Recommendations for Budget Savings For the first time ever, the Athens-Clarke County government's proposed budget will shrink a bit rather than increase next year, and ACC staffers and commissioners are look ing hard to find savings. As in other places, ACCs property values have continued to decline with the economic downturn, and tax revenues have sunk along with them. "It's not been going in the best direction," County Manager Alan Reddish told commissioners at a budget work session last week. Sales tax revenue is roughly steady, but federal stimulus money has run out, and the local government has already made vari ous cuts over the past few years. This year's budget will be the tightest yet; it includes net reductions totaling $800,000 below FY11. Reductions in county services will not be severe, but "it will have an impact" Reddish said. Leaf and limb pickup could be extended from an eight-week cycle to nine; three backup firefighters could lose their jobs; travel funds for all departments could be cut by about a third; and animal control calls could be eliminated on weekends (except for emergencies). In total, more than a dozen positions could be cut and benefits for the remaining employ ees are likely to take a hit For two years, ACC employees have not had cost-of-living raises or merit raises; they won't in the coming year, either. (Reddish proposed resuming raises the following year.) Funds reserved for emergen cies (like tornadoes) are being reduced; the best that can be said about the proposed bud get Reddish said, is that "it balances." Mayor Nancy Denson, herself a longtime county employee, proposed restoring a modest reduction to health benefits that was made several years ago, but Reddish maintained that ACC's benefits are "rather rich" in health insurance—and they are "the single larg est benefit that we pay for." Commissioners seemed inclined to agree; disability benefits could be trimmed, as well. And while cutting night bus service (begun only in 2006) could save nearly $400,000 a year, commissioners are resisting that proposal. "I think the need has increased for this service," Commissioner George Maxwell said. "We worked so hard to get it done." Fewer people ride the buses after 7 p.m.—an aver age of 257 people per night, spread over six routes—especially during the last hour of night service, which runs until 11 p.m. That last hour will likely be cut, but just hav ing night buses may give people confidence to ride earlier in the day, commissioner Ed Robinson said, because riders know they can still get home if they work late. Commissioners are continuing to discuss budget cuts at work sessions this week (the final session is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, May 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the Bob M. Snipes Water Resource Center) and will vote on the final budget June 7. Fourth-of-July fireworks at Bishop Park could be a casualty. The fireworks show costs $10,000 to put on; it had already been cut from the county budget, and was being paid for by donations—but this year, the donations SATURDAY, MAY 14 Living Wage Coalition » 6:45 p.m. Suex Effect Youth Program: 7:15 p.m. David Swanson 10:00 a.m. Youth Welcome 7:45 p.m. Rollin’ Home 10:00 a.m. Montessori singers 8:15 p.m. Revolution Books Girts with Guitars Nicole Casey 10:30 a.m. Tim iohnson 8:30 p.m. Ralph Roddenbery Athens immigrant Rights Coalition 9:00 p.m. N0RML 10:45 a.m. Tic Tac Tones GLOBES 11:30 a.m. Ambitious for Equal Rights 9:15 p.m. Diva Experience Economic Justice Coalition 9:45 p.m. David Swanson 11:45 a.m. Kara Keen presents 10:15 p.m. The HEAP The Exonerated" 12:00 p.m. Dancing Flowers for Peace SUNDAY, MAY 15 12:30 p.m. Noogeez 2:00 p.m. Festival reopening Festival: 2:00 p.m. Repent at Leisure 1:00 p.m. Festival opening 2:30 p.m. Faces of the Homeless/VISTA 1:10 p.m. The Burning Angels Athens immigrant Rights Coalition 1:45 p.m. David Swanson 2:45 p.m. The Fact 2:00 p.m. JD Smith and Company 3:15 p.m. Economic Justice Coalition 2:15 p.m. Blind by Sight Nicole Casey 2:45 p.m. PholksingerJosh 3:30 p.m. Tommy Jordan and String Theory 3:00 p.m. Athens 4:00 p.m. Georgia Conflict Center 3:30 p.m. Dignidad Inmagrante En Athens Back to the Garden 3:45 p.m. The Georgia Healers 4:15 p.m. The Charlie Garrett Band 4:15 p.m. Eugene Wilkes 4:45 p.m. Speaker Open Mic Millard Farmer 5:00 p.m. Kite to the Moon 4:30 p.m. shehehe 5:30 p.m. David Swanson 5:00 p.m. Arturo Corso 6:00 p.m. So It Goes 5.T5 p.m. JazzChronic 6:30 p.m. Green Party 5:45 p.m. Economic Justice Coalition Athens Revolution Group Athens immigrant Right Coalition Life 6.-00 p.m. Marisa Mustard 7:00 p.m. Cosmic Charlie 6:30 p.m. GA Students for Public Higher Education • 8:00 p.m. Ed Tant 8:15 p.m. Michael Guiioie Band KOJhJD TOWKJ MB 8^- PAREWTS 5Roi>6MT ff\B HER£ ujMEki | DAS A I3A5V This is the omlv Home z u'ijod WDOC i/rtig MTEO L/kl OOuJs) UfiTH HB 8? firm ifingr g / ujewr ro a rallv last jU/£EU pROreS-puG THE*ARi20UA copycat" Bill hb?? EVEPV DAV 1 DORRY ^THat Y*W PARENTS BE DE PozTZD AMD I U ILL JJEvyER. SEE THErA AGAiP THE PROTEST lIAS 0R6A.gi7.EI> BY Students cedar SHoALS High school they TOLD STORIES aboutUHAT IT IS TO LfV/E AS SECOfJD C LA5^ CIT/TCnjS AJQ j* c^G^EGAT/QfJ THE Y WAV JOBBER ABct TO Attemd College... mo matter Hod WARD THEV Tp.y e \ tJ 6 L RS • ^ E *T are $5500 short. "We have no money budgeted for this, and as a government we will not be sponsoring fireworks," Reddish said. John Huie 33rd Annual Athens Human Rights Festival Hits Streets Saturday Created over three decades ago as a memo rial to the people killed or wounded during the Kent State University and Jackson State College protests in May of 1970, the Athens Human Rights Festival, now in its 33rd year of operation, continues to foster a free, open- minded forum for discussion on political, social and cultural issues currently facing the community. Taking place downtown at College Square, the 2011 festival will kick off with a youth program Saturday, May 14 at 10 a.m. Kid- friendly bands and performers such as Dancing Flowers for Peace (exactly what it sounds like) will keep young people entertained between speeches pertaining to the challenges fac ing immigrant children and the increasing importance of receiving higher education. A children's area full of crafts, face-painting, sidewalk chalk and other activities will also be available. From anti-war efforts to the legaliza tion of marijuana, a multitude of political and social issues will be confronted over the course of the weekend as representatives from various backgrounds take the stage in an effort both to educate and rouse attendees. This year's lineup of speakers includes David Swanson, activist, blogger and author of War Is a Lie and Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union; Tim Johnson, executive director of Whatever It Takes Athens; Nicole Casey, former presi dent of the Arkansas chapter of the National Organization for Women; Athens Banner-Herald columnist Ed Tant; immigration lawyer and criminal defense attorney Arturo Corso; and activist lawyers Eugene Wilkes and Millard Farmer. Rows of tables set up by local non profit and activist organizations will also be present to share ideas and information. One major goal of many speakers is to eradicate prejudices against under-represented groups of people and support them in achiev ing equality. The Faces of Homelessness Speakers' Bureau will tell the stories of people who have experienced homelessness, in hopes of increasing understanding towards the less fortunate. GLOBES will discuss topics relevant to UGA's LGBTQ community, followed by the Diva Experience drag revue. The Living Wage Coalition and the Economic Justice Coalition will advocate for living wages and better treatment of all workers. Dignidad Inmagrante en Athens and the newly formed Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition both aim to educate, mobilize and support local Latino communities while informing the public of immigrant rights. Ambitious for Equal Rights (AFER), a group quickly formed by Cedar Shoals High School students after the Georgia General Assembly's passage of the "show me your papers" House Bill 87, will relate first-hand experiences of living in an anti-immigrant climate and fears of not receiving higher education if undocumented. UGA Students for Public Higher Education, a statewide coalition of students, workers and community members standing against education budget cuts and attacks on undocumented students, will speak in sup port of all students' right to affordable higher education. In addition to being a platform for activ ism, the Human Rights Festival also serves as a showcase for local musical talent. With two dozen bands and solo musicians performing, rock, Americana, punk, pop, blues and jam music will all be represented. Keep an ear out for the winners of the recent Battle of the Bands competition—Christian grunge rockers Blind by Sight and The Fact, a hardcore punk band relocated from Mexico City—who won a slot to play in this year's festival For more info, visit www.athenshumanrightsfest.org. Jessica Smith MAY 11,2011 FLAGPOLE.COM 5
