It was a voter approved sales tax project…the expansion at the city jail, on Phinizy Road, but a lot more room will come at a cost at the time the city is looking at balancing the 2010 budget by cutting jail costs. WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola has the story.

The city of Augusta wants feedback from residents on budget issues. The catch? You must be a resident of Richmond County, and over the age of 18 to take part.

According to a press release, State Court Solicitor Harold Jones will not be removing Woddy Merry’s case from the dead docket. Click to read the press release.

It’s something the state court solicitor says he’s looking into. We’re talking about Woody Merry’s appearence at Thursday’s Augusta Commission budget hearing. Merry was talking budget, but when his 4-minute time limit was up, he did not want to give it up. Merry is under a court order to not disrupt a public meeting in Augusta and Richmond County for one year, but Thursday’s outburst was two weeks shy of one year.

Getting into debt is not hard to do…but digging yourself out of six-figure debt in less than five years? Well, it’s possible. CNN’s Gerri Willis spoke to a Wisconsin family that proved it, from Wall Street To Your Wallet.

City Administrator Fred Russell will present his recommendations for the 2010 budget to Commissioners, on Tuesday. Shrinking tax collections have city bean counters concerned, and to keep from losing city services, a recommendation for a tax increase is expected. WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola has the story.

Transportation will come to a halt Saturday, for some 2,500 bus riders in the CSRA. The Best Friend Express bus system has suffered budget cutbacks, and that means fewer rides, and higher fares. WJBF News Channel 6’s Joy Howe has more.

South Carolina colleges and universities are touting a study commissioned by higher education officials that says more education would financially benefit the state. A study released Wednesday by the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business says more college graduates by 2030 could mean a $7 billion boost to the state’s personal income.

Employees at Georgia’s colleges and universities will take six furlough days this school year.

Some Augusta Commissioners say now is not to time to encourage more Augusta workers to get off the payroll, and into retirement. The city is being forced to make a more than $1 million contribution to its pension funds because they are considered underfunded. But, as the city prepares to pay, could it still save, with early retirements? WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola explains.

Money challenges are facing school leaders in Richmond County. The school system is more than $7 million in the hole. Dr. Dana Bedden, Superintendent for the Richmond County School System, says ongoing state budget cuts will leave Richmond County schools without enough resources to properly educate students. Dr. Bedden stopped by WJBF News Channel 6 to discuss the issues faced on our Wednesday noon newscast with Mary Morrison.

State budget cuts forcing school districts across the state to scramble to find ways to do the job with millions less. The Columbia County Board of Education voted Tuesday night to adjust the calendar for teacher furloughs. Those days will be moved to the week of Thanksgiving.

Athens Regional Medical Center officials are considering layoffs, pay cuts and health insurance increases to carve $14 million from the hospital’s spending.

Furloughs and layoffs are likely at the Medical College of Georgia and Augusta State University to help cope with further state budget cuts. MCG has issued a response regarding the situation.

They are a part of doing business in the city, lawsuits, and to take the cases to court, Augusta hires outside attorneys to asist the Legal Department. But, the dough to make a defense is almost gone, and the city will need to find big bucks to pay the legal bills. WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola has the story.