| Jail spending proposal up by $2 million - plus
The Two Bridges Regional Jail's proposed operating budget for 2008-2009 is $7.8 million, an increase of over $2 million, or 47 percent, from the $4.7 million in the current budget. The total proposed budget, including the increase in the debt service would cost Lincoln County a total of $4.4 million, an increase of $1.25 million over last year. The proposed budget would cost Sagadahoc County $3.4 million, an increase of about $1 million over last year. The two counties built the jail in Wiscasset with the provision that Lincoln would pay 57 percent of the cost, and Sagadahoc 43 percent, reflecting the number of inmates that would be sent from each of the two counties. The new Correctional Administrator Leonard LeGrand said the increase is in part due to the uncertainties in the proposed state consolidation plan.
How To Handle a Cash Crunch
(ARA) - In the world of living paycheck to paycheck, unforeseen expenses create a very stressful situation. Whether the car breaks down, the water heater blows a leak or your dog needs emergency surgery from eating the hallway rug, finding a way to get out of the red gets harder every day. If you don't have an emergency savings account, the alternatives of how to pay for these situations are limited. If you have a credit card and are already making payments, you know how long it takes to pay back credit debt even if you have a low interest rate. A larger balance creates a bigger monthly payment. If you're already struggling to make the minimum payment, the debt will continue to grow with no end in sight.Here are a few options for you to pay for emergencies and to make solid but simple changes in how you manage your finances:* Credit counseling -- Talk with a financial advisor for help in creating a budget.
Lebanese Banks Resist Political Deadlock At Home And Pursue Overseas Expansion, Report Says
LONDON, March 17, 2008--The main impediment for Lebanese banks remains their high direct exposure to the risks inherent in operating in the Republic of Lebanon, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services noted in a report titled "Lebanese Banks Plant Cedars Abroad While Resisting The Political Impasse," published today on RatingsDirect.
The ratings on Lebanon were lowered to 'CCC+/Stable/C' on Jan. 31, 2008, to reflect the current political impasse there. "The Lebanese government's high indebtedness, fiscal deficit, and fragile political stability pose a serious threat to any bank in the system," said Standard & Poor's credit analyst Paul-Henri Pruvost.
Although Lebanon has never defaulted, the banking system, which has proven highly resilient thus far, would suffer dramatically from an unwinding of public finances.
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