LUDOWICI, Ga. (WSAV) -- The new Long County manager said they're dealing with financial troubles that will have a ripple effect. "It is not a pretty scene. I thought we were $995,000 in arrears on bills to vendors, but it looks like that's more like $1.7 million," Chuck Scragg said. The $1.7 million is the sum of a number of bills, according to Scragg. Some bills are as small as an oil change or $815,000 for the new, unfinished county jail. "Unless we can find some financial help, and that would be like loans against as collateral on our property or something, we will miss the general obligation bond payment and be in default that has extremely severe consequences," Scragg said. "The commissioners have tried their best. It's one of those situations in which you really need professional help." The commissioner's office has been under investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) since September for misappropriation of county funds. Chairman Robert Parker was arrested in late February. Scragg has only been on the job for two weeks, but he said he has a plan to restore finances and take care of some major bills. The general fund sits at $220,000 as of Thursday. "We're going to banks right now and seeing if they would lend us some money to get us out of where we are because of the bonds," Scragg said. "I don't have a lot of time, but I think we can do it. I'm not sure. Our problem then becomes making the next payroll." The county spends over half a million dollars housing inmates in other nearby jails. Scragg is hopeful to have the Long County Jail open in July to save some of that money, but hundreds of thousands of dollars are still needed to finish the facility. Scragg also plans to cut 9% of county staff by April 18 and slash the budget by 15%. "We're going to get out of this. I'm very optimistic. It's just a question of time. We've got to find the right keys and the right path," Scragg said. The county will make payroll this month, but Scragg said he can't promise the same next month. The county will hold a work session to talk about solutions ahead of their next meeting in May. According to Scragg, the commission plans to change their charter to go to a "strong county manager" rather than the chair of the commission being the chief executive officer. This would allow Scragg some more freedom. ...read more read less