By: Sen. Cecil Staton
ATLANTA (January 23, 2009) – The joint House and Senate Appropriations Committee met this week to oversee the annual budget hearings that started Wednesday at the State Capitol. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee I spent these last three days meeting with fellow legislators and state agency directors from across the state as we begin the challenging process of cutting $2.2 billion dollars from our 2009 budget. Over the course of this legislative session, I and my fellow committee members will be charged with making certainly difficult choices that will affect our community and state as a whole.
As a statewide body we must look at every presented budget option in a fiscally responsible manner, making sure that every taxpayer dollar is funding core needs that the citizenry cannot provide for themselves. There is simply no room for error as we work towards creating new jobs and finding free market solutions that lead towards the path of economic recovery. As a citizen of our great district it is vital to protect the decisions that will have logical and fiscal sense, and have an enormous positive impact central Georgia and the state as a whole while keeping the budget woes in mind. An issue that falls in this category is the relocation of the Department of Corrections (DOC) headquarters to Monroe County, a project I am committed to see through to completion for 2009.
During Thursday morning’s Appropriations meeting, new DOC Commissioner Brian Owens spoke to the committee about his agency’s move to the Tift College campus in Forsyth. The Georgia General Assembly authorized almost $33 million to fund construction of the new DOC headquarters and training academy, of which $15.7 million will need to be provided to complete the project. Construction began this past January on the new facility which will house approximately 400 employees. He mentioned that the new headquarters will be in a far better location to strategically manage the system’s prisons and effectively recruit and train corrections officers. It will also create new jobs for the community and be much more cost effective in how they staff their facilities.
It is imperative that as a legislative body we protect the funds for this important initiative so that construction continues on schedule, the improvements can be completed, and the move takes place as soon as possible. The continuing progress of this significant project will bring much needed jobs and economic development to Forsyth and Monroe County, as well the entire region. It will give DOC the resources to better serve the entire state and simply makes the most fiscal and logistical sense for their agency.
Above all this move will ultimately be a long-term benefit to taxpayers and the state of Georgia in terms of savings and service provided. So while we must be mindful of how every taxpayer dollar is spent during the budget debate, I’m committed to safeguard this project for a better 18th District and a better Georgia.
Remember to contact me in my office on the issues that are affecting you and your area.
Sen. Cecil Staton serves as Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee. He represents the 18th Senate District which includes portions of Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones and Monroe counties. He may be reached by phone at 404.656.5039 or via e-mail at cecil.staton@senate.state.gov.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
January 23, 2009
For Information Contact:
Raegan Weber,Director
Matt Colvin Communications Associate
matthew.colvin@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028