State mental health leaders told a legislative committee that costs for a cohort of waiver participants roughly doubled from 2021–2024 and that the developmental disabilities program makes up about 59% of the department budget. They urged targeted funding and program changes to reduce strain.

Superintendent Greg Hartjes said the district's health insurance costs rose from about $29.5 million in 2022 to a projected roughly $41.4 million in 2025 after a carrier folded and the district began self‑funding, placing added pressure on the budget.

County social services director told commissioners that treatment facility costs for children have surged in recent years and that federal and state shifts in SNAP administrative funding could create a roughly $1.3 million placement shortfall and an estimated $685,000 annual SNAP administrative gap beginning in fiscal year 2027.

Rutherford County finance and emergency officials told commissioners they have paid roughly $38 million in storm-related debris and recovery costs, received about $7.6 million in expedited FEMA funds and are awaiting roughly $31.5 million in reimbursements. Officials said the delays have reduced interest income, increased credit‑rating risk and are

(Reuters) -Fitch maintained Romania’s investment-grade credit status on Friday, keeping its "BBB-" rating after the new government pushed through steps to ease its budget deficit, but the outlook remained "negative" due to persistent financial pressures. A re-run presidential election earlier this year brought centrist Nicusor Dan into power in May after the country’s worst political crisis in decades. The new broad coalition government has recently pushed through a series of tax increases and spending measures, aiming to cut the European Union’s largest budget deficit. "Nevertheless, the socio-economic cost of the fiscal adjustment, tensions within the government coalition and strong support for far-right populist parties remain significant political challenges," Fitch said. The two-month-old cabinet of Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan is already grappling with a stalemate over planned cuts to state spending and public administration jobs. Its largest party, the leftist Social Democrats, have walked out of coalition meetings. The leftists, without which a ruling majority cannot be sustained, oppose cuts to EU-funded investment projects and to a controversial state budget investment scheme for local administrations. Fitch said it estimates Romania’s budget deficit will remain among the highest in the "BBB" category, even while easing from last year’s 9.3% of output to a forecast 7.4% this year and 6.3% in 2026. "Fiscal consolidation will only mitigate the upward pressure on debt given the very high starting deficit," it added. The central bank, prime minister and finance minister all warned earlier this week that recession risks have increased. Fitch sees growth at 0.7% this year. Like Fitch, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s rate central Europe’s second-largest economy on the last rung of investment grade with a "negative" outlook. S&P affirmed Romania’s sovereign credit rating in an unscheduled ratings review in July but warned that the pending spending cuts will test the cabinet’s stability. Moody’s will review Romania in September. With valuations skyrocketing in 2024, many investors are uneasy putting more money into stocks. Unsure where to invest next? Get access to our proven portfolios and discover high-potential opportunities. In 2024 alone, ProPicks AI identified 2 stocks that surged over 150%, 4 additional stocks that leaped over 30%, and 3 more that climbed over 25%. That's an impressive track record. With portfolios tailored for Dow stocks, S&P stocks, Tech stocks, and Mid Cap stocks, you can explore various wealth-building strategies.

A Program of Unprecedented ScaleAt dawn in Indonesia's southernmost province, the clatter of pots and pans echoes through a small...