By: Sen. Cecil Staton
I joined Senate and House members this past week to take a hard look at Governor Perdue’s state budget proposals and met with many state agency directors to assess their budget situations. While it is very early in the process, we are a long ways away from any final decisions. It is essential we conduct a thorough and inclusive process to ensure everyone’s voice is heard.
The governor expects a $1.44 billion dollar shortfall for this year’s budget. The cuts we make in 2010 are in addition to the nearly $3 billion shortfall we managed last session without raising a single tax. With these huge shortfalls over the last several years we must strike a balance between cutting wasteful government spending programs and protecting vital state services.
While there clearly are areas of government spending that need to be prioritized and re-evaluated, one area that the Senate is committed to defending is our education funding. While some programs face up to 25 percent cuts or outright elimination, cuts to education have been kept to about 3 percent. Education spending is still over half of the state’s budget and teacher salaries continue to be one of the highest in the nation considering the low cost of living that we enjoy in Georgia. Teachers are also receiving their scheduled step-pay increases which they have worked extremely hard to earn. Maintaining these levels reflects our steadfast commitment to education and how important it is for our children and our state’s future.
Other states have not been able to manage their budget crisis as effectively as Georgia’s leaders. Unfortunately, those states have been forced to make significant cuts to their children’s education. Stateline.org reports that some 10,000 children in Illinois may not be able to go to preschool after a 10 percent cut to pre-kindergarten programs. California may shorten its school year by 5 days. These are only a few sad examples of how dire the situation has become across the nation. We must stay in line with fiscally responsible spending practices will help keep us from these unfortunate predicaments.
My grandmother was a 3rd grade teacher, my uncle was a middle school principal, and I was a college faculty member for nearly 15 years. I have witnessed first-hand the value of our education system and its teachers. I will work tirelessly to preserve our state’s great higher education system and improve K-12 education by minimizing cuts. These are unprecedented times and we must do our part. With all state employees, including the General Assembly, taking three furlough days before June, we can weather the storm this recession has brought and provide the tools our state needs to protect our children’s education. Together we will get through this.
There is no doubt that balancing this state budget will be our biggest challenge this session. Tough choices must be made on what exactly our government needs to be doing to set things right. I assure you that your elected leaders are focused and determined to make decisions that will protect education and bring jobs and long-term prosperity to Georgia. The budget now moves on to the House and I look forward to working with them, my Senate colleagues, and the governor throughout this process.
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 22, 2010
For Information Contact:
Matt Colvin, Broadcast Specialist
matthew.colvin@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028