ATLANTA (May 7, 2012) – Sen. Shafer thanks Gov. Deal for his support of zero based budgeting, Shafer’s Senate Bill 33 signed into law after ten year campaign.
Sen. David Shafer (R-Duluth) today issued a statement thanking Gov. Nathan Deal for approving Senate Bill 33, the Zero Based Budgeting Act.
“I applaud Governor Deal, not just for signing the bill but for his leadership in voluntarily implementing zero based budgeting,” Shafer said. “This tool is already being used to identify unnecessary spending and ensure that tax dollars are being used wisely.”
Under Georgia’s current budgeting law, spending programs approved one year are automatically rolled over into succeeding budgets of the state under a single line item called “continuation.” The budget presented to lawmakers only details new expenditures.
Senate Bill 33 requires 1/8 of the budget to be rebuilt from scratch each year.
“The entire budget should be periodically rejustified. What was needed one year may not be needed the next year — or the next decade,” Shafer said. “Zero based budgeting will help lawmakers be better stewards of the budget.”
Shafer introduced his first zero based budgeting bill as a freshman senator in 2003, reintroducing it in 2005, 2007, 2009 and again in 2011 as SB 33.
Shafer also thanked Americans for Prosperity, Republican Liberty Caucus of Georgia, Libertarian Party of Georgia and Atlanta Tea Party for their grass roots support of SB 33 and earlier versions of the legislation.
The bill was carried in the House by Rep. Stephen Allison (R-Blairsville). Sen. Jack Hill (R-Reidsville), Sen. Josh McKoon (R-Columbus), Rep. Chuck Martin (R-Alpharetta) and Rep. Mike Cheoakas (R-Americus) joined Shafer and Allison as members of the conference committee that hammered out the final details of the legislation.
RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
May 7, 2012
For Information Contact:
Natalie Dale, Director
Kate Greer, Broadcast Specialist
kate.greer@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028