Governor Perdue issued the 2011 budget of 18.2 billion dollars (photo by Carl Zorns)
In light of declining state revenues, Perdue cut this year's budget by $1.2 billion. He says the three furlough days are necessary, but they won’t continue into the next.
"Our fiscal year 2011 budget does not utilize furloughs whatsoever," says Perdue. "I view furloughs as a temporary solution in drastic times such as we have had."
The only agency to get more funding this year are Georgia’s mental health facilities because of a federal mandate to improve.
Despite a decline in state revenues over the past 13 months, Perdue thinks the worst is over.
"I believe that we are through the free fall," says Perdue. "While we may see some negative numbers in one of the months, I think we will average flat or above for the remainder of the year."
Perdue expects a brighter 2011. He anticipates a 4 percent growth in revenue.
Democratic state leaders say all options should be explored before cutting more school spending this year, like drawing down on stimulus money reserved for 2011.
House Minority Leader Dubose Porter says, "Well, if you're looking at potential growth down the road, let's fill these holes now. We can't go back in education."
Porter says he's pushing for the Department of Revenue to work with local governments to pull in hundreds of millions of dollars they say are going uncollected.
Next week state agencies will go before lawmakers and justify their budget requests.
