News 12 at 11 o'clock, July 9, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga.---U.S.D.A. Officials say school lunch programs are starting to have serious trouble covering costs to make cheap, healthy meals but that's no excuse for parents and guardians like Debbie Hardison - when they learn that the price for school lunches are going up in Richmond County.

"We're almost going to have to sell my house and move into a barn to take care of us, its just unaffordable," says Hardison.

And now that school lunches will be going up, she says she'll have to find even more ways to cut costs--in order to make sure the little ones she's responsible for, get enough to eat.

U.S.D.A.officials blame "higher" food prices as the reason. Food prices alone could jump as much as 5.5 percent this year. While its expected that meals in Richmond county may increase by 45-50 cents per meal, its unclear how this will affect the quality of meals.

Like so many others - Hardison will get a double "wammy"as a homeowner in Richmond County, her personal property taxes will also go up to help cover the school budget deficit --if and when the millage rate changes.Combined together -its enough to make anyone worry about the future.

"I don't know what to choose, if I got 10 dollars, I don't know if I need to feed my family for the week, I don't know if I need to put in gas for the week, I don't know if I need to call somebody come help me out, give me a ride from A to B, I just don't know what to do," says Hardison.