Metro news for Tuesday

Working to comply with a federal consent order, Fulton County has so lowered its jail population that the commission decided to lower its budget for outsourcing inmates to other jurisdictions’ jails. The budget was already to be cut $1.7 million for 2012, but the commission opted to slash it an extra $1 million. The saved money will be used for accountability courts and diversion programs. The average daily jail population was 2,002 people in November, lower than the federally-mandated 2,500 cap. Johnny Edwards

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Fulton County has drawn up and approved new commission district maps, accounting for 2010 census figures. If adopted by the state legislature and deemed in compliance with federal law, the maps go into effect after 2014 elections. Commissioner Liz Hausmann objected to Northside districts having more than 187,000 people a piece, while two Southside districts will be closer to 180,000, which she said leaves her area underrepresented. She reminded the panel of the calls for another north Fulton district, to which Commissioner Bill Edwards said he’s tired of threats both to add another commissioner and to re-form Milton County. Johnny Edwards