The multi-tiered process will include such steps as creating a 10.25 percent reduction in Medicaid reimbursements to doctors and hospitals as well as removing sales tax exemptions from nonprofit hospitals. Perdue expects these steps to raise about $350 million.
Also, Perdue says he plans to use around $350 million in federal stimulus dollars to prevent a further deficit.
Rep. John Meadows (R-Calhoun) said that both the house and senate are working to balance the budget.
“That is the one thing we are required to do by law is to present a balanced budget,” Meadows said.
He points out that in the past 14 months the state has lost $4.6 billion in revenue.
“We have to get this thing balanced and we have to cut a lot,” Meadows said. “It is going to hurt a lot of people, but we have to bare down. It is going to take us a couple years to get through this.”
Part of that will include additional $443 million in cuts to public projects. Of that number, colleges and universities will lose $113 million in federal stimulus funding. This is significantly less than the $300 million in higher education cuts that were discussed earlier this month.
1) Close the Board of Elections & Voter Registration office. Annual budget $157,000 for less than three elections per year.
2) Discover what the Board of County Commissioners do with a budget of $173,984.00
The average government wage and salary per hour of $26.11 was 35 percent higher than the average wage and salary of $19.41 per hour in the private sector. (Source: Labor Department)
During the 2007-08 school year, the average Georgia superintendent made $148,000; during the 2008-09 school year, the average superintendent made $157,000, according to the state Department of Education. (3X average family income)
Shut down the Georgia Courts Automation Commission. The commission has an annual budget of about $600,000.
Stop giving Rep Meadows no-bid insurance contracts. According to budget, taxpayers paid $30,000 to replace a wrecked sheriff's car.
(63%) of Georgians think cutting taxes is a better way to create jobs than increasing government spending.