ATLANTA (December 16, 2008) – The Senate and House held a joint meeting of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Overview Committee (MARTOC) today at the state Capitol to discuss an overview of MARTA’s budget and where the system stands financially. Senator John Wiles (R-Marietta) serves as vice chair of the committee with chairwoman Rep. Jill Chambers (R-Atlanta).
WASHINGTON, D.C. – (December 16, 2008) Sen. Valencia Seay (D-Riverdale) has recently been elected to the Executive Committee of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) during the organization’s 32nd annual legislative conference in Washington, D.C. Chosen by 600 of her colleagues from across the nation, Sen. Seay will serve as an at-large member of the Executive Committee, replacing fellow Georgian Rep. Bob Holmes (D-Atlanta).
ATLANTA (December 16, 2008) – Sen. Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) chaired a joint meeting of the Senate Fiscal Management Subcommittee and the Best Value in Government Task Force today at the Capitol. Members of both committees gathered to discuss agency reports, efficiencies, and cost savings for the Departments of Audits, Revenue, Banking and Finance, and Administrative Services, as well as the State Accounting Office, State Properties Commission/Georgia Building Authority, Georgia Technology Authority, and the Office of State Administrative Hearings.
ATHENS – (December 15, 2008) Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur) has recently been elected to serve as the 2009 chairman of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC). Sen. Jones was elected during the caucus’ meeting last week at the Biennial Institute for Georgia Legislators held at the University of Georgia in Athens. He was elected by the caucus’ 50 plus members to serve a two-year term as chairman, beginning in January.
By State Sen. Greg Goggans
Sen. Greg Goggans
The Governor and the Department of Revenue recently released the revenue figures for November. On the positive side, the month-to-month comparisons between November of this year and November of last year (FY08) show that revenues were 1.4% higher.
In addition, the state has been making up ground over the last three months in terms of its annual revenues. In September, year-to-date (YTD) revenues were -2.61% below FY08 actual revenues, in October YTD revenues were -1.98% below FY08, and in November YTD revenues were -1.3% below FY08 revenues. In the summer budget writers were operating under the assumption that the state would be .9% below FY08 (a $1.6 billion deficit in FY09), so actually November revenues suggest that the state is approaching this target.