ATLANTA, GA (January 15, 2009) — Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Jack Hill (R-Reidsville) spoke on the Senate floor this morning regarding Georgia’s recent revenue numbers and the budget challenges facing the legislature this year. Despite hearing the reality of the budget shortfall and the gap between last year’s and this year’s revenue numbers, State Senate leaders expressed an understanding of the daunting challenge they are facing and vow to implement solutions for Georgia’s long-term benefit. With the 2009 budget shortfall at $2.2 billion, Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle is convinced that any fixes the General Assembly tries to implement must be fiscally responsible and sustaining.
“We are facing a very challenging budget season and should prepare for the worst while we hope for the best. It is my priority this year to balance this budget, not by seeking the aid of creative revenue enhancements, but by making the tough decisions to fund essential government services and cutting those that are not,” said Cagle. I am confident in the Senate leadership as we work toward implementing strong, fiscally responsible policies that will steer our great state for many years to come.”
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Jack Hill (R-Reidsville) spoke to the Senate floor this morning on Georgia’s recent revenue numbers. Senator Hill showed Georgia’s income tax was down almost 2.7% compared to last year at this time, and that the state is showing a serious decline in December 2008 revenues as compared to December 2007. Senator Hill noted that it is difficult to say whether revenues will continue to slip through 2009, and he urged his Senate colleagues to enter this General Assembly with a conservative mindset.
“There’s no doubt we are facing difficult times now and with the uncertainty of knowing where the bottom will be, there has never been a more pressing need for all legislators to be as informed and open-minded as possible in working together on the State’s budget,” said Hill. “Working with the governor and our colleagues in the House I believe Georgia will be fine in the long-run, as long as we look at sustainable solutions. That’s why things like the Rainy Day Savings fund were created – to help with unpredictable times and it’s that type of mentality that will allow us to prosper long into the future.”
Senator Hill noted during his presentation that while it is difficult to be positive in Georgia’s current economic state, he reminded state leaders that recent drops in oil and food prices, a stable manufacturing industry with new automobile plants entering the state, a growing Savannah port and the historically resilient U.S. economy as a whole are ways to look at Georgia with an optimistic future.
For more information on the Georgia State Senate, please visit www.senate.ga.gov.
Sen. Jack Hill serves as Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. He represents the 4th Senate District which includes Bulloch, Candler, Effingham, Evans and Treutlen counties and portions of Emanuel and Tattnall counties. He may be reached at 404.656.5038 or via e-mail at jack.hill@senate.ga.gov.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
January 15, 2009
For Information Contact:
Raegan Weber,Director
Matt Colvin Communications Associate
matthew.colvin@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028