A new study shows arts organizations generate almost $400 million for the state's economy.

But that isn't sparing them from state budget cuts.

The study funded by the Metro Atlanta Arts and Culture Organization looked at the economic impact of 380 arts groups in 70 counties statewide.

It says, arts organizations generate $18 million in tax revenue.

Former Savannah Mayor Susan Weiner now heads the Georgia Council for the Arts.

She says, if legislators enact the Governor's proposed budget, her office, which funds arts groups state-wide, will have had its budget cut nearly 80% in 5 years.

"It would devastate them," Weiner says. "The state is cutting a revenue and tax generation resource."

In a separate study, the National Assembly of State Legislatures found that Georgia ranks 47th in per-capita spending for the arts.

If lawmakers approve the Governor's proposed budget, the Georgia Council for the Arts would lose more than $1 million.

Tags: budget, budget cuts, budget shortfall, arts, arts education, fiscal budget, Georgia budget cuts, Georgia budget, budgets, GPB News, Georgia Council for the Arts, Susan Weiner