On Friday, Jan. 15, Gov. Sonny Perdue released his budget recommendations to the General Assembly by introducing a $17.4 billion Amended Fiscal Year 2010 budget, which contains adjustments to the state’s current spending that ends on June 30 of this year and an $18.1 billion proposal for fiscal year 2011 that begins on July 1.

The General Assembly, House and Senate, held 22 hours of joint appropriations hearings.  During these hearings all major agency and department heads presented overviews of their budgets and were questioned by members about previous spending and proposed budget requests.

No action is taken at this type hearing, but the 2010 supplemental budget and the 2011 proposed budget will now start in the House as separate bills and will be reviewed in detail by various subcommittees of the House Appropriations Committee. 

It is noteworthy that both the 2011 budget and the projected revenues of the state are 22 percent lower than the 2008 budget and state revenues. Just as many families in Georgia are experiencing difficult financial circumstances, so are all areas of state government, but the General Assembly and the state employees are handling this budget crisis just as many Georgia families are doing — we are cutting back on spending. In fact, our proposed 2011 budget almost equals the budget for 2001, despite the fact that the state population has increased by over 1.6 million. The Republican-controlled General Assembly remains committed to avoid raising taxes during this economic crisis.

We will continue to examine user fees for services, which are delivered by various state agencies to bring these fees more in line with the actual cost of the services provided.

In the coming weeks, I will be addressing in greater detail various aspects of the budget as we proceed though budget hearings and final adoption of the 2010 supplemental budget and the proposed 2011 budget.

As I work to keep you informed I hope that you will do the same. I trust that you will contact me if you learn of any legislation that is particularly important to you or your family.  As your representative, I am here to serve as your voice.  You can reach me at my Capitol office at 404-656-5125, or email me at wendellwillard@wendellwillard.com