WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE REPORT—January 25, 2008
Governor’s school cuts put burden on local taxpayers
By Rep. Hugh Floyd
This week, the Georgia General Assembly was in official recess, but House and Senate Appropriations Committee members heard from state department heads on their budget requests for the remainder of the current fiscal year as well as fiscal year 2009, which begins July 1, 2008.
Gov. Sonny Perdue had outlined his record $21.4 billion state budget proposal to legislators during the first week of the session. One area of the governor’s plan that appears to need legislative budget writers’ help the most is that of funding for our local schools.
The governor has proposed to cut an additional $141.5 million in state funding to local school systems. Although it is the responsibility of the state government to provide public education, the governor has now cut almost $1.6 billion in local school funding since taking office in 2003, hurting our students and shifting the burden to local school boards and local taxpayers.
When the governor first imposed what he calls “austerity cuts” five years ago, it was understandable because the state was suffering an economic downturn and revenues were tight. But with the governor’s overall spending plan increasing by $1 billion over last year, no one seems to know why it is necessary to continue these tax shifts on local schools – including state leaders from the governor’s own political party.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Ben Harbin (R-Evans) pointed out during our budget hearings: “It’s forcing districts to make changes, either raising taxes or cutting programs they have been funding locally.”
State School Superintendent Kathy Cox added, “That cut is a disappointment to me as well. I am very concerned about that.”
Those of us in Gwinnett County who have seen our local property taxes skyrocket are also concerned, and I will support the legislative effort to restore this funding so that the state can once again meet is obligation to educate Georgia’s children.
Speaking of helping our local schools, I urge your support of the Gwinnett Kids Count 2008 Education Bond Campaign. Please vote to approve $750 million in General Obligation Bonds for our schools on Feb. 5, the date of the presidential preference primaries in Georgia.
If approved by the voters, Gwinnett schools will use revenue from the bonds for much-needed classroom construction, technology upgrades and other improvements without increasing taxes.
Local parent Mike Levengood, chairman of the campaign committee, was quoted as follows: “Gwinnett’s school system has set a high standard for providing students with a quality education. Voter approval of the bonds will allow the school system to get more of our children out of trailers, build new classrooms, improve the school system’s technology - all without a tax increase. We hope everyone will go to the polls February 5th and vote yes. General Obligation Bonds allow the school system to access needed funds right away. We are committed to quality education in Gwinnett and that means ensuring our schools meet student needs across-the-board, from new classrooms to state-of-the-art technology.”
On Tuesday, Jan. 29, the Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District will be hosting a Public Information Meeting regarding redevelopment planning for the Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Buford Highway Corridors. The meeting will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Ashiana Banquet Hall, First Floor of Global Mall Forum, 5675 Jimmy Carter Boulevard in Norcross.
The area to be discussed includes Jimmy Carter Boulevard from Singleton Road to Buford Highway; and Buford Highway from the DeKalb/Gwinnett County Line to Langford Road. The meeting will present the vision of the Gwinnett Village CID’s adopted Redevelopment Plan, and gain input from the public on the CID overlay district ordinance that is currently being developed. Staff members will discuss how this draft code offers incentives to create a vibrant, mixed-use community along these gateway corridors.
For more information, call John McHenry at 770-449-6515 or email at johnmchenry@gwinnettvillage.com.
- Rep. Hugh Floyd (D-Norcross) represents the 99th District (Gwinnett County) in the Georgia House of Representatives. Contact him at 611 Coverdell Office Building, Atlanta, GA 30334; by phone at 404-656-0314 or by e-mail at hughfloyd@mindspring.com.
