Athens Regional Looks To Cut Millions

One of the bigger hospitals in the state needs to cut millions of dollars from its budget in order to stay afloat. The financial struggles of Athens Regional Medical Center are much like other health care facilities across Georgia trying to hang-on.

Officials with Athens Regional are considering all options in trying to reduce costs, but yet spur new revenue. The Athens Banner-Herald says the hospital needs to cut $14-million from its budget, and layoffs may have to be part of the plan. The hospital employs 2,500 people full-time, with another 500 part-time.

The weak economy has affected hospitals and health care centers everywhere in Georgia, whether in large urban, or small rural areas.

Kevin Bloye is with the Georgia Hospital Association, which represents 170 hospitals and health care systems:

"We did a survey among our membership the first part of the year and we found three out of four hospitals in the state are experiencing pretty severe increases in bad debt and charity care since October of '08."

A spike in un-insured patients, and dramatic fall in money-generators like elective procedures are part of the equation.

Bloye says federal stimulus dollars in the state budget propping-up Medicaid is helping.

Emory Says Suspending $1.9B Expansion

Emory University says it is suspending a $1.5 billion medical expansion project because of the uncertainty about the economy. School officials say construction has yet to begin on the projects, including a new hospital on Clifton Road.

The chief executive officer of Emory Healthcare, John Fox, says the suspension likely will last through 2009. Fox says Emory is not in a bad financial situation, but it has to take steps to make sure it doesn't get there.

Emory's plans also included a large outpatient clinic on its main Clifton Road campus, plus a medical tower on West Peachtree Street that would have hospital beds along with outpatient clinic space.

Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
http://www.ajc.com

(AP)

Lawmaker: Ga. Can't Close Carter Visitor Center

(National Park Service)

Georgia economic development officials were left red-faced as a veteran state lawmaker said the department's plans to shutter a visitor center in former President Jimmy Carter's hometown of Plains violated state law.

The Georgia Department of Economic Development's budget plan eliminated $186,407 for the visitor center as part of agency budget cuts.

But at a budget hearing Thursday at the state Capitol, state Sen. George Hooks, a Democrat from Americus, said Georgia law dating from 1977 requires the state to "construct, operate and maintain a tourist center" near the home of any Georgian elected president.

Economic Development Commissioner Ken Stewart said he was not aware of the law and said "we will certainly go look at our options."

(AP)

Click here for more GPB coverage about budget cutting statewide.

State Jobless Claims Up 174 Percent

"Stunning and sobering" is how Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond described December's job numbers.

There were over 125 thousand initial claims in Decmeber 2008, compared to just under 50 thousand the same time last year.

In Northwest Georgia, initial claims are up one hundred percent. Over three thousand claims were filed in Floyd county alone.

(special hat tip to druck at www.hometownheadlines.com)

Dire economy led Georgia news in '08

The vast economic crisis has left scores of Georgia's houses empty, its banks shuttered and sent thousands of its residents searching for jobs even as its unemployment rate balloons to heights not seen since Ronald Reagan was president.

The nationwide recession was the top Georgia news story of 2008, according to state editors and news directors voting in The Associated Press' annual survey.

Other stories high on most lists included an energy crisis that sent gas prices on a roller-coaster ride, the U.S. Senate runoff that thwarted Democratic plans for a super-majority in the Senate and the months-long trial of courthouse gunman Brian Nichols.

Yet the economic doldrums was the top choice for seven of 12 Georgia AP members participating in the news cooperative's survey.

Georgia residents began feeling the economic fallout early this year as a growing number of homes remained unsold and credit grew tighter. Firms fired workers, governments furloughed staffers, foreclosures spiked and the state unemployment rate soared to 7.5 percent - the highest in 25 years.

The bleak economy forced regulators to close down five state banks, and led Gov. Sonny Perdue to order spending cuts of at least 6 percent to narrow a deficit that could top $2 billion in 2009.

The new year is unlikely to bring much relief. State economists warn unemployment will climb higher and housing prices will continue to plummet through the first half of 2009.

Volatile energy prices were the No. 2 story of the year. The topsy-turvy fuel market sent the price of crude soaring to as high as $150 a barrel in July before crashing to $33 this month.

The jump in prices, which soared after Hurricanes Gustav and Ike shuttered Gulf Coast refineries, sparked panic among Georgia drivers. Gas stations advertised fuel at $8 a gallon, while some drivers camped out at gas stations to be first in line for new deliveries.

Georgia's seemingly endless U.S. Senate campaign notched the No. 3 spot.

Residents headed to the polls four times to vote on the Senate contest, beginning with the July primaries and ending with a Dec. 2 runoff when Saxby Chambliss was elected to a second Senate term. The Republican's victory over Jim Martin deprived Democrats of a 60-seat filibuster-proof majority.

The conviction and sentencing of Brian Nichols for a deadly shooting spree that began in the Fulton County Courthouse was the year's No. 4 story.

After more than three years and a tangled trail of legal delays, a jury found Nichols guilty of murder. But it deadlocked over whether he deserves the death penalty, forcing a judge to sentence him to life in prison without parole. Now some legislators are intent on changing the state's death penalty rules.

The stubborn drought still squeezing parts of the state emerged as the No. 5 story of the year. While a soggy December helped elevate most of the region from the epic conditions, much of north Georgia - including devastated Lake Lanier - remains in a "severe" drought.

The No. 6 story was the deadly explosion at the Imperial Sugar refinery in February near Savannah that killed 14 workers and injured dozens more. Investigators determined the blast was caused by sugar dust that ignited like gunpowder in the plant's storage silos.

The presidential election, which dominated national headlines, was voted the No. 7 story in Georgia. Democrat Barack Obama's campaign recruited thousands of volunteers focused on turning the state blue, but Republican John McCain managed to claim Georgia's 15 electoral votes.

The No. 8 story of the year broke just hours after New Year's Day.

Meredith Emerson was abducted while walking with her dog that day in the north Georgia mountains, and police later found her body. Authorities soon arrested Gary Michael Hilton, who is now serving a life sentence after pleading guilty to her murder.

The Delta Air Lines merger with Northwest Airlines took the No. 9 slot, as the combination made the Atlanta-based carrier the world's largest airline. It completed a remarkable turnaround for Delta, which had filed for bankruptcy in 2005.

Clayton County's education woes was the year's tenth-ranked story. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools revoked the county's accreditation after it failed to meet a range of recommendations. More than 3,200 students have since bolted.

Stories close to making the list included convicted murderer Troy Davis' efforts to get a new trial and avoid execution, a legislative session that again ended in gridlock and an explosion at a Dalton law firm that killed the person responsible and injured four others.

(AP)

Albany: applicants swamp job fair

Turnout at an Albany job fair for a Marine Corps contractor on Friday was so great that the contractor, AECOM, says they canceled about 200 interviews that were scheduled for Sunday.

“AECOM has told us that they have so many applications, they will not be honoring those interviews,” Kari Finley, media and events manager for Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers and the fair’s host told the Albany Herald newspaper.

More than 1,500 registered for 125 positions, according to the report. The contractor interviewed some 450 applicants.

The more than 10 to one rush for spots comes in the wake of the announcement by the city's Cooper Tire plant that it was shuttering its doors in '09, a move that will put more than 2,000 people out of work.

Georgia unemployment is at a 25-year high.

Click here for more GPB News reports about unemployment.

Budget cutbacks close Atlanta firestation

Atlanta residents are feeling the pinch of municipal cutbacks that stir concerns about fire and police protection.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran has announced plans to close Fire Station 23, located on Howell Mill Road near I-75, and will shut down a firetruck stationed near Candler Park starting Christmas Day.

At a public meeting, Berkeley Park Neighborhood Association president Michael Wagoner says closing Fire Station 23 is unacceptable.

Meanwhile, nearly all departments at City Hall now are closed on Fridays as Atlanta tries to save money to close a projected budget shortfall of at least $50 million. Sales taxes, building permit fees and other city revenues are down by nearly 13 percent so far this budget year.

Mayor Shirley Franklin has made four rounds of layoffs since May.

In related budget cutbacks statewide, Camden County Sheriff-elect Tommy Gregory has sent notices to 27 employees in the department telling them they no longer will have jobs on January 4th. Gregory says there were initially 45 employees on the list he considered firing.

The departures will include most of the command staff.

(AP)

Click here for more GPB News coverage about the economic downturn in Georgia.

ZEP to Scrub 45 Jobs

Industrial strength cleaner manufacturer ZEP will cut 45 jobs after October sales plunged. The Atlanta chemical company has a workforce of about 2,400. The layoffs will come from outside the sales division, and account for about five percent of non-sales employees.

Budget cuts take toll on Ga. crisis centers

Phones are ringing off the hook at Georgia's violence crisis centers as the tough economy translates into more reports of abuse in cash-strapped homes.

But even as domestic violence and rape crisis centers struggle to serve a rising number of victims, they have been hit with crippling state budget cuts that have forced them to slash programs and staff.

As part of Gov. Sonny Perdue's mandate for 6 percent budget cuts for most state agencies, the Department of Human Resources wiped out budget increases that would have gone to centers that help victims of rape and domestic violence.

It has sparked a concern for victims advocates who worry that violence crisis centers with already tight budgets are shouldering a disproportionate share of the budget burden.

"More victims are calling because we are getting the word out that these services are available," said attorney Shelley Senterfitt, a lobbyist for the centers. "But now what if someone calls and no one answers the phone? It sets up a false expectations for victims."

Commissioner B.J. Walker declined several requests for an interview, but spokeswoman Taka Wiley said the department had little choice.

"A lot of agencies are just tightening their belts and this is just something that we have to do," she said.

The cuts come at a time when the services are most needed, said violence crisis center leaders.

"Since the economy has been down, our shelters are almost always full now, and we have noticed a remarkable rise in the amount of calls coming in," said Beck Dunn, executive director of the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Dunn said the domestic violence center cuts, which amount to $815,000, is forcing centers to lay off staff, cancel benefit plans and cut prevention programs.

"The unfortunate part is that I have seen several shelters remove full time staff to part time because they can't give them benefits anymore," Dunn said. "Centers have to worry about providing food and clothing."

The Liberty House in Albany once sent three staff members each week to 17 counties in southwest Georgia to help women get protection orders. But now it can only afford to travel when a victim calls.

"We are losing access to people," said executive director Silke Deeley. "And victims are losing access to services and educational information."

She has scaled back on fresh produce, turned to powder milk and eliminated outreach programs. In January, Deeley said she will likely have to fire at least two staffers. Already, she said, the 21-bed center has a waiting list of four families.

"If they can't come in the shelter, what other options do they have?" Deeley said.

Shawn Paul, president of the Georgia Network to End Sexual Violence, said sexual assault centers were expecting $635,000 from the state this year. Instead they have had trouble finding the staff to operate 24-hour help hot lines and can no longer travel to victims, Paul said.

"I am very concerned about whether we can even keep all 25 rape crisis centers open," he said. "It is criminal how we expect our nonprofits to survive and provide like this."

There are 46 domestic violence shelters in Georgia which cover all 159 counties. The state does not have comprehensive coverage for rape crisis -- 25 centers for 129 counties.

State Sen. Nan Orrock said she and other female legislators will push for more funding for the centers when the legislative session convenes in January.

"There will be women who die or suffer critical injuries because the state of Georgia is failing to invest in programs proven to help," said Orrock, an Atlanta Democrat.

(The Associated Press)

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the economic crisis.

Panasonic closing Ga. plant

Panasonic plant in Peachtree City. (Courtesy)

Panasonic has announced that a car stereo production line at Peachtree City, south of Atlanta, will close by the end of 2009.

Company spokesman say the closure -- among the largest in Georgia this year -- will put 500 employees out of work.

Panasonic says the production facility will be moved to Mexico, in order to cut costs in a tight car market.

But, company officials say they will continue product development and regional administration at the Peachtree location.

Click here for more GPB News economic coverage.

Georgia economic forecast not so rosy

A leading economic forecaster says Georgia’s economy will continue to misfire just like the rest of the nation for the near future.

Rising gas prices...the credit crunch...the housing downturn...it’s all part of the lethal mix of factors in what Rajeev Dhawan is calling a recession for Georgia and the nation.

The director of Georgia State University’s Economic Forecasting Center compares where the state is hurting to other areas of the country:

"If you look at the job losses, they’re not terrible like the national. The loss in home prices is not as terrible as in Florida and California. But when you look at the revenue growth turnaround…that’s been a drastic one. It’s gone from a positive 5-6 percent to a negative 5-6 percent in a span of 6-8 months".

And the state’s revenue drain is being felt in university towns. Dhawan says as schools experience cutbacks, the trickle-down seeps into the communities.

Dhawan says only west Georgia is feeling an upswing in its local economy, given the construction of the KIA plant and its related business. Other regions of the state are in a holding pattern, such as ports and tourism along the coast.