Georgia’s governor-elect says deeper cuts to education could be needed because of state budget woes.

Nathan Deal tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the state's lottery-funded HOPE scholarship can't continue on its current path with drastic measures possibly needed to save that. The Georgia Student Finance Commission, which oversees HOPE, projects a shortfall of more than $240 million this fiscal year, with that figure growing the following year to more than $300 million.

Deal says HOPE measures might include ending the book allowance and grants for students to take remedial programs in college.

The governor-elect did not give specifics on cuts to K-12 funding but said a lot of "tough choices" will need to be made.

Tags: education, Nathan Deal, HOPE scholarship, state budget, governor-elect, K-12 education