Governor-elect Nathan Deal is diving into the state's budget troubles this week. (photo-Edgar Treiguts)
And his spokesman Brian Robinson says the meetings will extend beyond this week:
“It will be an ongoing process not only throughout the week, but really throughout the next two months. This is a very big process, and a lot of important decisions need to be made in the next two months before we can present a budget to the Legislature in January.”
Deal is tasked with the job of helping to write an $18 billion state budget that is likely to be in the red by about $1.8 billion into the next fiscal year.
Sarah Beth Gehl of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute says it’s a “really difficult task” for Deal, made tougher by what’s immediately ahead:
“We’re going to see the expiration of the federal stimulus funds as well as a couple of other one-time funds like our reserves and selling-off some of our assets which brought in a little bit of money over the past few years.”
Deal will take office amid the state having absorbed big cuts the past couple of years.
He ran on a platform of lower taxes and smaller government, and says he wants to create a business climate to create jobs.
