| Should You Consolidate Your Loans
Once you leave school, you can consolidate all of your federal student loans into one big debt. Consolidation is tempting because: 1) It's easier to keep track of and pay one bill a month. 2) The government allows you to consolidate your 10-year student loans into a 30-year debt, which can cut your monthly payment by about 40 percent. .
3 towns to consider shared services
After the announcement of Gov. Jon Corzine's proposed budget cuts last month, Sussex Borough officials are reconsidering the idea of a possible merger with Wantage Township. Wantage township officials say they have been in discussions with Sussex Borough for the past year about revisiting a proposed 2006 township merger, and they are also interested in extending their shared service agreements to other neighboring townships. If they do merge, Sussex and Wantage will be eligible for grants from the state's Department of Community Affairs Division of Local Government Service. The state has set aside $25 million to aid municipalities in the cost of the merger, which includes Feasibility Study Grants that would assist municipalities with the planning and developing of shared services.
Proposed jail budget up over $2 million
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.
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