ATLANTA (January 13, 2011) – Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell) attended Governor Nathan Deal’s State of the State address at the State Capitol and commended his commitment to conservative, fiscally-responsible leadership.
“Governor Deal’s emphasis on prioritizing spending in crucial areas will help grow our state’s economy by preserving our most important assets. With education being a number-one priority, we can focus our spending on creating an educated workforce prepared to take on the jobs of the future. We must give our children and grandchildren the tools to adapt to a rapidly changing economy. The governor’s budget will also reward teachers by eliminating furlough days,” said Albers. “Clearly, tough decisions are ahead in order to re-shape our government to operate in a more fiscally-responsible environment. I am confident that the General Assembly is up to the task and look forward to working with my colleagues to ensuring that our legislative policies move the state forward in the best interest of all Georgians.”
During his State of the State address, Gov. Deal announced his budget recommendations that include an $18.2 billion budget for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011. By reducing the revenue estimate by over $27.5 million, the legislature will work to replenish state reserves, also known as the Rainy Day Fund.
The governor also announced the elimination of 14,000 state employee positions. These positions account for those that have already been eliminated through attrition, where employees have retired and the position was not subsequently filled. The governor is officially eliminating these positions to ensure that state government lives within its means.
Education will be a top priority this session, and Gov. Deal’s budget recommendations will end teacher furloughs and keep students in school for a full year. He also addressed changes that must be made to ensure the HOPE scholarship remains fiscally sound.
Understanding that preserving a sustainable water supply is crucial to the state’s economic future, Gov. Deal is recommending $300 million over the next four years to be dedicated to reservoir creation and expansion. He also addressed the importance of deepening the Savannah Harbor to accommodate larger shipments upon completion of the 2014 Panama Canal expansion.
Sen. John Albers represents the 56th Senate District, which includes parts of North Fulton County. He may be reached at 404.463.8055 or by e-mail at john.albers@senate.ga.gov.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
January 13, 2011
For Information Contact:
Natalie Strong, Director
Kallarin Richards, Deputy Director
kallarin.richards@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028