|
|
|
|
|
|
League of Women Voters of Georgia
100 Edgewood Avenue, NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
404-522-4598 |
|
|
Nonpartisan News From The Georgia Capitol
Published weekly by the League of Women Voters of Georgia Education Fund
Editor: Tracey-Ann Nelson
Know the Issues. Join the Conversation. Make a Difference. |
|
|
Fiscal Year 2011:
Frustration Mounts with Cuts in Higher Education
Since the initial release of Governor Perdue's 2011 fiscal-year budget proposal, an estimated $1.1 billion dollar shortfall has developed in the state budget. The shortfall is based on revenue projections that have not been realized. Thus, state legislators have been trying to find new places to shave the already strained budget. Their latest method of cutting has come down particularly hard on the higher education system of Georgia. Most recently they have decided that the University System of Georgia (USG), which is comprises of 35 colleges and universities, should shoulder $300 million of the budget shortfall. That means that the USG - which only comprises 12% of the state's budget -will have to make up 30% of the deficit. The USG's 2010 budget was reduced from $2.3 billion dollars to the proposed 2010 budget of $1.9 billion dollars. Tally that loss in with the $300 million, and the overall Board of Regents budget cuts are equal to around $600 million within a one-year period.
The university system would have to compensate for such drastic cuts while also continuing to expand and accommodate the growing influx of college-bound students. The Board of Regents' Chancellor Erroll Davis suggested that the majority of the cuts would be offset by increasing tuition costs. Nevertheless, even with the projected 77% increase in tuition expenses, the university system would still not break even. Also on the table is a 1% reduction of pay across the board - about a $10 million dollar savings - as well as an overall reduction of staff members, fewer class offerings, larger student counts per class, cutting library hours, even reducing the range of majors offered by the university system.
On Thursday, March 3, Governor Perdue held a news conference and assured the public: "[W]e will not dismantle a world-class University System that we spent over two decades to build-up." He further chastised legislators for the scare tactics that brought student protests to the state Capitol. At a news conference a few hours later, members of the Joint Appropriations Committee told reporters that they hope the cuts won't be that deep, but they can't make any promises. Although state law prevents them from dictating where the cuts would be made in the university system, they agree that the cost shouldn't be borne on college students alone. Governor Perdue doesn't foresee massive hikes, but there is room to raise tuition, he said. The final numbers have yet to be decided upon.
| |
|
You are invited to the presentation of
Governor's Proclamation and
Legislative Resolutions
March 25th, 2010
10:00am
State Capitol Rotunda
Guests:
Governor Sonny Perdue
|
House and Senate Calendar
Legislators will reconvene on March 8th for the 21st legislative day of the session.
| |
|
K-12 Education-
Appropriations Education Sub-Committee
 The budget for the Georgia Department of Education continues to decline as Georgia's population continues to grow. With a nearly 1.5 % annual growth in the K-12 student population, the state legislature is simultaneously reducing its 2010 budget by $1 billion dollars. In 2009, the education budget started out at $8.2 billion, and was later adjusted to $8 billion. This was immediately followed by more cuts in our current fiscal year 2010 state budget, where the $8 billion dollar budget has been amended lower. In all, the legislature has reduced Georgia's K-12 funding from $8.2 to $7.9 billion dollars within three years. And the future doesn't look any brighter. A newly proposed budget for fiscal year 2011 will require new cuts of over $1 billion dollars.
A Senate and House Appropriations Education Sub-committee meeting was held specifically to hear the Department of Labor's position on the cuts and any recommendations they might have. Their featured speaker was State Superintendent Kathy Cox. Her primary recommendation was to shorten the school year. Currently, the state of Georgia has a mandatory policy requiring a 180-day schedule for the school year calendar. In regards to the proposed budget cuts, Cox defended herself and the Department of Education by stating that they do not wish to see any further cuts to their budget, as they may negatively impact both teachers and students. Cutting teacher's educational planning days has also been suggested, but Supt. Cox is opposed to that option. She sees shorter school years as a more viable option. Other suggestions from both the Department of Education and state legislators included changing the five-day school week to only four days, more furlough days for teachers, larger classroom sizes, and possibly reducing teachers' pay.
Other organizations around the Capitol have their own thoughts on both the continued education cuts as well as Supt. Cox's suggestions. Sally Fitzgerald, an advocate for the Georgia PTA, is openly against such drastic measures. At the meeting, she shared her sentiments with the Department of Education: "I would encourage you to refrain from cutting time from our school year to educate our children." She ended her argument by saying, "We can't do a rerun on childhood."
Opinions aside, there are several burning questions that remain unanswered. Students, parents, and teachers demand to know what these cuts will mean for education. Furthermore, when are these concerns going to be addressed by legislators? Although fewer students are dropping out of high school, Georgia's graduation rate remains one of the lowest in the country. How will bigger classrooms help to increase the number of high school graduates? How will shorter school years improve students' scores on standardized tests? Will teachers with a lower salary and more furlough days have the motivation to ensure their students are reaching their full academic capacity? These questions and the possible consequences of these cuts should be considered before such extreme actions are taken. |
Legislation
EDUCATION HB 1031- Rep. Oliver (Dist. 83)
Gives new residents to a community 30 days to enroll their child in an elementary or secondary education facility. Makes truant behavior and the aiding of truant behavior a misdemeanor. Status: House Second Readers
HB 1066- Rep. Fludd (Dist. 66)
Applies a 1% surcharge to Georgians' net taxable income that exceeds $400,000.00 a year. This is from 2010 to January 2012. Status: House Second Readers
HUMAN RESOURCES
HB 1054- Rep. Walker (Dist. 107)
Allows those who receive food stamps to purchase certain foods over the internet from 501c nonprofit organizations. Status: House Committee Favorably Reported
TRANSPORTATION
SB 354- Sen. Shafer (Dist. 48)
Authorizes municipal governments to close roads that have been abandoned or unused for an extensive amount of time. Such roads would also be removed from county road maps, and the public would be prohibited from using them for travel. Status: Senate Read and Referred
ENVIRONMENT
Requires that state agencies that deal with water management provide regulations, incentives, and assistance as an initiative on managing water conservation in Georgia. It also establishes a 12-member joint committee that will issue a report by December 31, 2010. Lastly, it would require all new multi-unit buildings constructed after 2012 to have sub metering systems. Status: House Rules Committee
PUBLIC SAFTEY
SB 325- Sen. Butler (Dist. 55)
Prohibits law enforcement officers from impermissibly using race or ethnicity in determining whether to stop a motorist or pedestrian. It implements the following: annual training on proper law enforcement conduct to prevent discriminatory behavior, documentation by law enforcement that reports the race, ethnicity, and gender of all individuals that are stopped for a traffic violation. Status: Senate Read and Referred
HB 1099- Rep. Marin (Dist. 96) Prohibits law enforcement from discriminately using race, ethnicity or gender as a determining factor in stopping pedestrians and motorists. The definitions are as follows: law enforcement, pedestrian stop, racial profiling, and traffic stops while also providing definitions for what is and isn't authorized by law during a "stop". HB 1099 is a continuation of SB 325, but provides greater clarity and provisions. Status: House Second Readers
SB 397- Sen. Mullins (Dist. 53)
Provides for the creation of a "Blue Alert" system which would aid in the quick arrest of violent criminal offenders. The "Blue Alert" system would be used for the following: at large murder and rape suspects. The system would also speed the capture of violent criminals who kill or seriously injure local, state, or federal law enforcement officers. Status: Senate Read and Referred
SB 360- Sen. Murphy (Dist. 27)
Prohibits the use of wireless telecommunications devices by persons age 18 or younger while driving. This includes sending or receiving text messages. Status: Senate Read and Referred |
|
KEY
HB- House Bill HR- House Resolution
SB- Senate Bill SR- Senate Resolution CA-Constitutional Amendment
|
|
The League of Women Voters of Georgia, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major policy issues and influences public policy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
