Opinion: While Rome Burns. . .

On May 11 Governor Perdue vetoed SB178 - Education; advance funding, exceptional growth, low-wealth capital outlay grants; embed/extend a sunset date saying that he had serious concerns about the dual enrollment (students in high school taking postsecondary classes) and ‘BRIDGE’ portions of the bill.

The ‘BRIDGE’ portion (Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia’s Economy) was designed to develop programs to improve graduation rates and to improve the preparedness of students for postsecondary education and careers. Each ninth grade student would select a focus of study and have an individual graduation plan. Rigor in curriculum (high expectations yields high results) was maintained and industry/national certification could be pursued. A productive citizen doesn’t have to be a four-year college graduate. Senator Isakson told me the individual graduation plan is the best feature of this bill and it alone made the bill worthwhile.

The legislation contained model programs for students at risk of dropping out of high school. School counselors and graduation coaches would also be trained in career awareness programs as well as college prep.

Remember traditionally one out of three students do not graduate from high school. Only fifteen percent of students graduate from a four-year college in six years.

We spend over $10 billion in education for these results. The biggest impediment we have in statewide economic development is our reputation of having an uneducated workforce (not traffic congestion).

It is the Governor’s right to veto any piece of legislation. However, his press release stated he had substantive policy concerns about ‘BRIDGE’; the initial cost was $417 million per his staff; and the annual ongoing cost was $146 million.

Superintendent Cox, the Department of Education, and I (primary bill sponsor) know of no policy concerns that were not resolved. No one in the Governor’s office ever raised any of these ‘objections’ with us. We currently spend about $10 million in the areas of the legislation and the Superintendent and DOE felt they could implement the bill with little additional cost. Remember we spend over $10 billion for poor outcomes. Do you think a new approach that gives all students hope and a chance to excel might be a good idea?

After three years of work, this bill is an attempt to deal with a major problem on a macro level. We have individual school districts that currently employ many of the strategies in this legislation and this bill would take these best practices statewide.
This is not a gimmick or a token effort at a problem (superspeeder for trauma) or another reorganization of a department while the problem continues (traffic) and frustration mounts.

I know we live in difficult times and resources are scarce. Stimulus finds are available to help fill some of the holes. Hopefully the money will be spent on programs/facilities that will make a difference.

It is time to park egos and allow others’ good ideas to proceed. ‘BRIDGE’ is not my creation. Many smart people crafted this bill and I am just the messenger.

Education reform should not take over three years when my party is in control.
How many more dropouts will we create by our inaction? How many more companies will pass on Georgia due to our reputation in education? Where is the vision? GO FISH!

Fran Millar
Vice-Chairman, Education Committee
Georgia House of Representatives

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GBPI: Governor Took Responsible Path, Vetoed So-Called JOBS Act Legislation, Saves State $1.5 Billion‏

"Governor Perdue chose the fiscally conservative path and vetoed House Bill 481, preventing changes to Georgia's tax code from eroding state revenues by $1.5 billion over the next three years, beginning July 1, and costing $438 million each year thereafter," said Alan Essig, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute executive director.

"The governor's economists know their numbers. Governor Perdue saw the worse-than-expected revenue figures for April and chose not to increase Georgia's worsening deficit," said Essig. Revenue collections through the first 10 months of the current fiscal year (2009) are down by 9.5 percent; however, the budget is based on a revenue decline of 6.8 percent.

"Governor Perdue has been a good financial steward of the state. He has reduced waste and now has risen above special interest pressure that ignores vital services the state must provide," Essig said.

The governor and General Assembly already cut state agency budgets by $1.6 billion when it closed a $3.3 billion deficit for FY 2010. Now, due to worse than expected revenues, Georgia could face an additional budget shortfall of several hundred million dollars for FY 2010 (beginning July 1), which would require further cuts.

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Latest Numbers: State Revenues Decline Further, Governor Should Veto Tax Cuts

In light of the continued decline in state revenues, the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute calls on Governor Perdue to continue his promise of fiscal responsibility and veto bills passed by the General Assembly that siphon dollars from the fiscal year 2010 budget, placing it into a deficit.

The FY 2009 collections through March are running 1.2 percentage points behind what the budget projects - a 8.0% revenue decline from FY 2008 total collections instead of a 6.8% revenue decline. If this decline maintains through the end of the year (April through June), the FY 2009 revenue shortfall will be at least $225 million.

Georgia has approximately $550 million in the Revenue Shortfall Reserve that automatically covers the shortfall this year, however this leaves little wiggle-room for the FY 2010 budget starting in July.

"Governor Perdue has been a good and reliable steward of Georgia's budget," said Alan Essig, GBPI's executive director. "He is the last chance Georgia has to prevent worsening the impending deficit."

A deficit is acutely relevant in light of so-called stimulus legislation the governor has on his desk. According to the official fiscal notes on House Bill 261 and HB 481, if these bills are signed into law they will cost the state treasury approximately $60 million in FY 2010, as well as hundreds of millions of dollars in FY 2011 and FY 2012.

"These bills devote millions of dollars to activity that will occur regardless of government intervention. They will also keep millions of dollars from important services that won't be offered to Georgians who need them, such as meals on wheels and care for Georgians with developmental disabilities, and to services that make our state strong, like the education system," said Sarah Beth Gehl, deputy director of GBPI.

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