Representative Clay Cox
Georgia’s 102nd District (Lilburn, Snellville, Mountain Park, Norcross)

Dear Friends:

As you may have heard, the Georgia Legislature has taken a two week recess to allow various committees of the house and senate to work jointly on the budget. This unusual action was determined to be necessary, and I agree, by the Speaker and Lt. Governor as we come to grips with cutting an additional $1 billion from our projected spending in the upcoming fiscal year.

Just to give some perspective, when I was first elected in 2004, the state budget was nearly $24 billion dollars. That number has steadily declined each year as we have cut government spending – some by policy driven choice, but most by necessity of declining tax revenues. Below is a summary of what we are facing:

What is the total state 2011 Budget?

It is about $18 billion. This year, the Georgia General Assembly has discretion over $16 billion in the General budget. This excludes $2 billion in (the bulk of) motor fuel taxes, all lottery funds and the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund, which are dedicated by state constitution to specific appropriation purposes.

What is the shortfall that will need to be addressed in the proposed 2011 Budget?

Projections put it at $1 billion or more. It about equals the Everything Else category listed below.

How is the proposed 2011 General budget allocated?

• 44% ($7 billion)
K-12 - 1.6 million students; 160,000 teachers

• 14% ($2.2 billion)
Community Health - Medicaid, Peach Care, state health benefit plan, county public health departments

• 12% ($1.9 billion)
Regents - 300,000 students; 35 colleges and universities

• 8% ($1.2 billion)
Debt Sinking Fund - Bond payments

• 6% ($1 billion)
Corrections - 54,000 inmates; 37 prisons

• 5% ($800 million)
Behavioral Health - Including 7 state-run mental health hospitals, Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities

• 3% ($500 million)
Human Services - Including Child Welfare, TANF, Aging, Adoption, Foster Care Services

• 2% ($320 million)
Technical Colleges - 160,000 students; 65 colleges and branches

• 6% ($1.1 billion)
Everything Else*

*Everything Else totals just over $1 billion in the budget. It covers 40 agencies and all branches of government, such as Public Safety; Juvenile Justice; Judicial System; Governor’s Office, Senate and House; Teachers Retirement; Driver Services; Pardon and Paroles; and Revenue Department.

Thanks for your support. If I can be of service to you please let me know.

Representative Clay Cox
401 State Capitol
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
(404) 463-7853
clay.cox@house.ga.gov

Source: Direct e-mail from Clay Cox’s office