For all of the stress Georgia faces from the recession, it could be worse.
And it is, says Rep. Tommy Benton, in states like South Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi.
In Winston-Salem, NC, for a meeting of the Southern Legislative Conference, Benton says he’s gotten an earful from other attendees from throughout the south about their budget shortfalls.
“They all have the same problems,” said Benton, who attended the conference at his own expense as chairman of its education committee. “Some of them are a lot worse off than we are. After listening today, I would say South Carolina, Alabama and Louisiana are worse off, and Mississippi might be in worse shape. West Virginia was the only one who said they had a surplus.”
Those states are largely taking measures similar to Georgia to close the gaps between their budgets and the revenue on hand.
So far, Benton said, he’s heard no word of a special session of the General Assembly, although one could be called at any time if the budget crisis worsens.
“If things get much worse, you’re going to see a lot of people asking for a special session to get us to go in and try to fix some stuff,” he said.
That’s not something the legislators want to see happen.
“Not only would we be cutting the budget more, but it would also cost about $400,000 to hold the special session,” Benton said.
Members of the General Assembly are taking one furlough day a month. Gov. Sonny Perdue is taking the same three days of furloughs that he ordered for Georgia educators.
“Everyone in state government is taking a hit,” Benton said.
To date, he says, most Georgia educators, though concerned, understand the situation.
“They may not understand completely, but everybody I talked to knows what’s going on,” he said. “They understand the state doesn’t have the money to pay this right now. They understand that their salary schedule has not been cut, that when things pick back up, they’ll get their same pay.”
Like most educators, Benton expects another demand for furloughs after the first of the year.
If that happens, it will result in teachers pay being cut for the year by 3.15 percent for the school year.
