Legislative leaders are calling on lawmakers to take another 6 to 8 furlough days in light of budget cuts this year.

State Lawmakers meet in Atlanta for 40 days a year, but hold their post year round. They get an annual salary of $17,341 plus expenses. House Speaker David Ralston says by taking more furlough days, legislators would send a strong message.

"We have furloughed teachers, we have furloughed state troupers and state employees," he says. "And I think it’s only fair that we do the same."

He says it would save about $70 thousand dollars more this year.

"It's not a huge amount of money," he says, "but it will save the state some money."

Furloughs are optional and most lawmakers have been taking 5 days already since August. Ralston says he expects all lawmakers to take the furlough days, but legislation might be needed to make them mandatory in the future.

Tags: education, lawmakers, furloughs, georgia state budget, David Ralston, GPBnews, Georgia.