HOUSE SETS PRIORITIES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009 BUDGET

 Education, Healthcare, Public Safety & Natural Resources

ATLANTA—Georgia State Representative Ben Harbin (R-Evans), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, was joined today by the Vice Chairmen and members of the House Appropriations Committee to outline the House priorities for the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget.  The House established education, healthcare, public safety and natural resources as its funding priorities for 2009.

“We have a state budget of almost $22 billion, and it is time that we set spending priorities to ensure that we are meeting the needs of 9.5 million people who live in this great state,” Harbin said.  “The members of this committee, together with the Vice Chairs, have been working hard, looking ahead, and we are setting a foundation for Georgia.”

On education, Harbin reiterated the House position in the FY08 amended budget to fully fund the Governor’s proposals to spend $25 million on school buses and $40 million on technology improvements.  He also expressed the commitment of the House to hold firm on the appropriation of $30 million the FY 08 amended budget for equalization grants for school districts and to fully fund the QBE formula in the FY09 budget.

Representative Jan Jones (R-Alpharetta), Vice Chairman of the Education Subcommittee, said, “In Georgia, we have seen real progress in the education of our children.  Graduation rates have increased by 10 percent.  We have virtual schools, graduation counselors, and we have given our teachers needed pay raises.  Despite these advances, we continue to neglect the basic core funding of education.  The priority of this House is to fully restore the $141 million in austerity cuts.”

Representative Mickey Channell (R-Greensboro), Vice Chairman of the Health Subcommittee, spoke about the House’s health care priorities in Georgia.  “Healthcare touches the life of every Georgian.  When our citizens are healthy then our state is healthy.  As we look at the 2009 budget, we are focused on improving access to quality care for all Georgians.  We will expand medical education in our state to bring more doctors to serve more Georgians.  We will strengthen our hospital systems including our trauma care network.  We will provide funding for community health centers serving Georgians every day.  And we will fully fund Peachcare to ensure that the next generation grows up healthy.”

As the drought in Georgia persists, the availability of water and the protection of Georgia’s natural resources continue to be a high legislative priority.  The Governor has already signed the statewide water management plan previously adopted by the House and the Senate. 

Representative Don Parsons (R-Marietta), Vice Chair of the General Government Subcommittee, outlined the House budget priorities on natural resources.  “With the drought still ongoing, we must take a look to the future and be prepared to handle any natural occurrence we face.  Now is the time to fund new reservoirs and to modernize our infrastructure.  Now is the time to work with local governments to ensure the future protection of not only our water supply, but all of our state’s natural resources.”

The final funding priority set forth by the House is public safety.  Specifically, training and more competitive salaries for public safety officers are the greatest concerns.  Addressing this issue was Representative Chuck Martin (R-Alpharetta), Vice Chairman of the Public Safety Subcommittee.  “Every night and every holiday when the rest of us are sleeping or spending time with our families, our public safety officers are working to protect us and to keep us safe.  Our corrections officers and our parole officers are working with individuals most of us would rather not deal with on a daily basis.  Their job is a thankless one, and they are underpaid for their efforts.  In past years, we have increased the salaries for other law enforcement officers, and in this 2009 budget; the House is committed to funding a pay package for our corrections and parole officers.  It is time we eliminate the high employee turnover in these positions and acknowledge the service they provide by raising the salaries of these dedicated public servants.”

Harbin concluded, “We are now focused on building a foundation for Georgia.  And as we continue our meetings on the 2009 budget, these priorities of education, healthcare, public safety and natural resources will guide our decisions and set us on a path to build a better Georgia.”

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