No Stone Unturned

By Sen. Jim Butterworth

“Leave no stone unturned.” This has become the theme of the budget process during the past few weeks. With Georgia facing an unprecedented slide in revenue numbers for the last 18 months, we have no choice but to make tough spending cuts. With education accounting for over 60 percent of state spending, our choices to cut are dismal at best.

As your State Senator, one of the things I feel obligated to do is keep you informed on issues and clarify topics when necessary. It is my desire to clear muddy waters that have been created over the last few days with regard to discussions of the Board of Regents’ budget.

Through the budgetary process, the governor proposed $265 million in cuts to the Board of Regents’ $2.2 billion budget. In recent discussions, members of the House and Senate appropriations committees asked the Board of Regents to demonstrate what another $300 million in cuts would consequently mean. This was simply proposed as topics for discussion to better understand the severity of our current budget. The result was a laundry list of terrible choices including massive layoffs, cutting essential programs, limiting future freshmen admissions and cutting research programs.

Again, these are purely points for discussion. This is what happens when open dialogue takes place with the goal of finding reasonable common ground. Rest assured, nothing on this list is going to a vote. As a matter of fact, these are not even recommendations from the Board of Regents. At this point, we are laying everything out on the table and looking at every available option so we can make smart, informed decisions.

I am extremely concerned about the topic of the 4-H and county extension programs.  These programs cannot be removed from UGA’s Research and Extension arms. 4-H touches the lives of more than 156,000 students and aides them in developing valuable life skills that better prepare them for leadership roles in their careers and community. Economic growth and success of Georgia agribusinesses greatly rely on the next generation of innovators.

Additionally, the Extension Service helps Georgians become healthier, more productive, financially independent and environmentally responsible.  Extension agents are in nearly every county in Georgia.  Most counties have a combination of agents who specialize in agriculture, natural resources, youth development and family and consumer sciences. Historically these programs have been a “budget line item” in the state budget and thus an argument could be made that they actually are not subject to being cut by the Chancellor of the Board of Regents or the President of the University of Georgia. I am studying this topic further and will determine the best method to defend these programs.

To clarify: There will be cuts. Some school programs might be limited, but not eliminated. There will be layoffs, but not to the extent recent discussions implied. February revenue numbers haven’t been released yet but they will be a very significant indicator as to what our next steps in the budget process will entail and how severe the cuts will need to be. Regardless, rest assured that I remain committed to ensuring that future generations of 4H-ers will have plenty of opportunities to use their heads, hearts, hands and improve their health through programs administered through statewide County extension offices.

As always, if you have any comments, concerns or would like your voice heard, please feel free to contact me anytime. If you need contact information you can go to the Georgia General Assembly website or simply send an e-mail to jim@jimbutterworth.net.

Sen. Jim Butterworth represents the 50th Senate District which includes Towns, Rabun, Habersham, Stephens, Banks, Franklin, and Hart counties along with a portion of White County. He can be reached by phone at 404.463.5257 or by email at jim.butterworth@senate.ga.gov.
COLUMN
For Immediate Release:
March 5, 2010
For Information Contact:
Raegan Weber, Director
Katie Wright, Communications Associate
katie.wright@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028