Oconee Co. offers deal to cut payroll

A central Georgia county is offering a deal to older workers in hopes of trimming payroll. Oconee County is hoping two dozen employees age 62-and-older will accept a retirement package including a $7,500 bonus, and comprehensive health benefits for at least a year. The proposal was approved by county commissioners yesterday. An Oconee County official says if all targeted employees accept the offer, the county can save more than $650,000 dollars. The employees would retire by the end of this year, and have until February to accept. The county is not planning layoffs.

AARP launches retirement campaign in Georgia

The AARP say more employers should automatically enroll employees in savings plans to avoid a retirement crisis. The group plans to launch a promotion in Georgia this week. A recent study showed only 17 percent of 401(k) plans offered automatic enrollment. The group is launching a national campaign to spread the message.

Blue Ridge Mountains Growing Fast

Georgia has 24 of the nation’s fastest growing counties, the majority in North Georgia near the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Fannin County in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains has grown the most. This is mainly because of so-called "half-backs," or Northerners who moved south to Florida and are purchasing a second home half way back.

Kristen Gunia is Fannin County Director of Development. Gunia, who is from the North, said that living in the Blue Ridge Mountains is a geographical compromise between North and South.

“We are a fairly moderate climate all year round, in the 60’s and 70’s. We do have some snow but very little and so its kind of an ideal midpoint location where they can get out of the heat but not have to go back to the snows and some of those things either,” Gunia said.

Most owners don’t live in Fannin county full time, so there is plenty of time for the economy to adjust to the growth, said Gunia.