ATLANTA (January 23, 2009)- This week legislators from the General Assembly began budget hearings with Governor Sonny Perdue’s address to the House and Senate appropriations committees where he outlined his plan to balance the state’s budget by $2 billion. Georgia is required by law to produce a balanced budget, and we are proactively analyzing state spending to ensure a fiscally responsible, efficient and effective state government. Through the Senate Government Best Value Task Force the senate has been working to be sure the state is still focused on its core functions.
The Senate Best Value Government Committee examines how the state, through its departments and agencies, can provide government service in the most efficient manner. As a member, we seek to develop strategies to ensure cost-effective expenditures of the public’s tax dollar. We work directly with the Governor’s office to give Georgians the most productive government at the lowest, most efficient cost.
This week Governor Perdue also noted that education funding is critically important in shaping the state’s future and has proposed a $1.2 billion bond package to invest in education infrastructure. Governor Perdue also encouraged passage of his “Super Speeder” legislation, where fines for excess speeding will be dedicated to funding a trauma care network. This proposal, previously proposed in 2008, answers the call of many across the state to strengthen Georgia’s limited trauma care system.
The Budget Briefings saw examples of well-studied budget plans in presentations by the Department of Revenue, Education, Natural Resources, the Judicial Branch, and the Department of Transportation. The committees were presented with an economic forecast by Dr. Kenneth Heaghney, state fiscal economist. After listing the downward trends Georgia has recently experienced across all economic sectors, including an average loss of 17,000 jobs a month, Dr. Heaghney said he predicts the state will begin to see a mild recovery in the middle of 2009.
Departments and agencies then delivered presentations focused on what impact a $2.2 billion budget shortfall will have on their programs. Following Gov. Perdue’s ambitious plans for education, State School Superintendent Kathy Cox outlined several new goals she plans to implement to meet the pressing needs of Georgia’s students, including increasing high school graduation rates, strengthening teacher quality, improving students’ workforce readiness skills, developing strong educational leaders, improving test scores, and creating policies that ensure the maximum academic and financial accountability. A major concern for the General Assembly is the reduction in school nurses for 2010. Nurses are contracted through this year, but could be eliminated in 2010.
Commissioner of the Department of Transportation, Gena Evans, led us through this year’s budget reorganization for transportation. Georgia is now the third fastest growing state in the nation while simultaneously being the second lowest with transportation resources. Because of this, Evans reiterated the importance of acute financial reorganization to meet our critical transportation needs with our decreased budget. Evans assured us that the department has paid careful attention to cutting costs without sacrificing service but noted that the legislature will need to redirect funds in order for the department to meet immediate transportation needs in Fiscal Year 2010. DOT is also working on preparing projects for immediate implementation in the event that Georgia receives funding from a Federal economic stimulus package.
Although we will be experiencing a lower budget this year, with the Senate Best Value Government Committee and our well researched departments, we can be fiscally responsible while simultaneously creating helpful legislation for Georgia’s citizens.
Sen. Bill Heath serves as Chairman of the Retirement Committee and Governor Sonny Perdue’s Floor Leader in the Senate. He represents the 31st Senate District which consists of Haralson and Polk counties and portions of Bartow and Paulding counties. He may be reached at 404.651.7738 or by email at bill.heath@billheath.net.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
January 23, 2009
For Information Contact:
Raegan Weber, Director
Hayley Howell, Senate Press Office Aide
hayley.howell@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0029