Representative Jay Roberts Weekly Capitol Update February 26, 2010 The budget was the focal point and our top priority this week. Although the General Assembly was not in session, our time consisted of attending and giving input during the subcommittee meetings of the Appropriations Committee. This week marks the end of the first two week recess. Far from a recess or a break, much will be accomplished as we devote all of our time towards the Fiscal Year 2011 budget. As we face one of the most difficult budget years in history, it is our responsibility as legislators to trim the budget and make the cuts necessary so the state can operate with a balanced budget. We must all join together and understand that we are all going to have to make sacrifices. The decisions that the Georgia General Assembly is facing in relation to budgetary matters for the state is not an easy matter. Still waiting on incoming revenue figures, the estimate is that the state will potentially have a $1 billion budget shortfall for 2011. This will result in significant cuts to the budget; however, we will try to soften the cuts to the best of our ability. Joint House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee meetings were held throughout the week to discuss the FY 2011 budget. The Joint Appropriations Subcommittee meetings held this week were: Education, Public Safety, Health, Economic Development, Higher Education, Human Resources, and General Government. The heads of each department presented their budgets to the Subcommittees. The members of the General Assembly were given opportunities during these meetings to ask questions in relation to the specific parts of the budgets being presented. This allowed the Department to respond to the questions and also allow some input as to where they would like to see the cuts made. During many of the meetings the departments and agencies were asked about those employees nearing retirement and hinted at the possibility of some sort of retirement incentive. This would decrease the amount of money needed for the departments and agencies and would help to avoid impending layoffs. If there is any area possible that the state can save money within any department or agency, the members of the General Assembly are going to find the savings; however, simply finding some savings will not be enough for what could possibly be a $1 billion shortfall for the state. The members of the General Assembly are looking for savings and for additional sources of revenue. Also, in regard to making cuts, the Departments offered suggestions and guidance for those cuts and how it would affect their individual departments. Of course, cuts of any kind have an impact on those departments and agencies and that is why the General Assembly is working tirelessly to come up with reliable long term solutions to the budget shortfall. In addition to the Joint Appropriations Committee meetings, the various subcommittees of Appropriations in the House held work study sessions this week. The involvement and dedication during these work sessions are extremely valuable. As legislators, it is our duty to balance the budget for the state. With the shortfalls the state is experiencing, we have to come up with creative solutions to the budget crisis. Families across our state are struggling to make ends meet and are experiencing this economic downturn just as the state is. We all must realize that cuts to the budget is the only solution to balancing the state's budget. We are all going to have to give a little and the cuts will affect all of us. Many constituents have called members of the General Assembly asking if we are also taking furloughs and the answer is emphatically yes. We have all agreed to voluntarily also take furlough days. We are in this recession together and the members of the General Assembly will also do our part. The practical solution is that the budget must be cut, slimmed down, and allocated to those programs and services that are most needed. Although the budget is our main priority, transportation and the funding for transportation continues to be a focus for the General Assembly and Governor Perdue. New sources of revenue is on the minds of all legislators, especially with the revenue shortfalls. The Governor's Transportation plan, House Bill 1218, was heard for the first time in committee this week. This meeting on Governor Perdue's transportation plan was only the first of many more to come. House Bill 1218 would divide the state into twelve regions and the voters in each region would have the opportunity to approve or reject a one cent sales tax which would be used for transportation projects in that region. Many questions were asked during the meeting and there are both proponents and opponents of the bill. The General Assembly will continue to study the issue and come up with a viable solution to our transportation needs.
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