GCN - General News Update

GCN - General News Update: "The financial situation in Hancock County is particularly dire according to a report by the Sea Coast Echo. In a recent meeting, Hancock County officials met with county officials from Harrison and Jackson Counties, which despite tightly straining budgets, are offering some assistance to Hancock County, which was 'Ground Zero' for Hurricane Katrina. Hancock County officials say the county is about $4.5 million dollars short this budget year, which will end in October. Next year is even worse as officials expect a shortfall between $10 million to $16 million, of a budget that normally runs around $34 million. 'We feel like about October 16, we are going to be belly-up,' said Hancock County Board of Supervisors President Rocky Pullman. Of the 19,000 homes in the county, 10,000 were destroyed by Katrina. Officials from Jackson and Harrison counties agreed to help with some of the road work, street signs, and manpower issues."