Plugging Fulton's deficit do-able, manager says

Fulton County Manager Zachary Williams has offered commissioners a plan to close a projected $70.3 million budget deficit next year. It involves taking nearly $40 million from reserves, furloughing workers, suspending building projects and scaling back grants to arts groups, among other things. Library hours would also be cut, though not all Sunday hours, as talked about previously.

Williams said the reductions would put the shortfall at about $15 million, which could be whittled away through 2 percent across-the-board department cuts. Other include combining Superior and State courts, ending inmate outsourcing, consolidating health clinics with Grady Health System and outsourcing some services.