Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue Friday signed into law the state’s $18.9 billion amended fiscal year 2009 budget, which includes assistance from the federal stimulus package.
Some $2.6 billion, or more than 10% of the original $21.1 billion budget, has been cut because of waning revenue collections.
“This is a budget that focuses on the core services of government,” Perdue said in a statement. “We have made effective use of federal stimulus dollars and the state’s rainy-day fund, which we worked so hard to build up, to lessen the impact of this economic downturn and plan for next year’s budget.”
Revenue estimates have been reduced twice, for a total of $695 million, since the original budget was approved. In response, Perdue ordered 6% reductions in most state agency budgets and lawmakers made other cuts, which were softened by use of rainy-day reserves and federal stimulus funds.
Perdue also announced the launch of the state’s stimulus accountability Web site at
The Georgia Department of Transportation has launched its own stimulus Web page. A link is on the agency’s homepage at
“The accountability Web site will allow all Georgians to hold their state government responsible for how we spend their tax dollars,” Perdue said.
