Perdue Cuts Teacher Pay, But Protects $19 Million for "Go Fish" Program

PERDUE CUTS TEACHER PAY,

BUT PROTECTS $19 MILLION FOR "GO FISH" PROGRAM

Statement of General David Poythress on Perdue's Cuts to Teach Pay

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 22, 2009
Contact: Wendy Davis, 770-446-2010

"Once again, our state leadership has made a poor decision that will result in cutting public school teacher pay.

Late yesterday afternoon, Governor Perdue announced a proposal to cut another $900 million from the 2010 state budget.  Included in this latest round of cuts is $99 million to cut pay to 100,000 teachers.   And while I support balancing the budget, and trimming fat from the state budget to achieve it, cutting teacher pay while protecting non-essential pet projects like the $19 million "Go Fish" program is wrong and irresponsible.

According to the 'Go Fish' program website, they state their mission as:

Go Fish Georgia is a $30 million initiative that will leverage $19 million in state funds with private donations and financial support from local communities. This program will boost economic development in many small towns and establish Georgia as a national fishing destination.

While I am a big supporter of rural economic development, and plan to make it a top priority in my Administration, it's hard to justify spending this money when we can't even pay our teachers.  In short, some things like the "Go Fish" program should have to wait a year until we get our fiscal house in order.  That's not tough love - it's the right thing to do.

Apparently Governor Perdue and the Atlanta politicians disagree.

A better decision would have been to delay or sunset special interest tax breaks.  A 2008 Georgia State University study estimates that sales tax exemptions total $10 billion a year.  If we were to furlough some of the special interest protections by just 1%, we could generate $100 million, help balance our budget and not cut teacher pay by a single penny.

A close examination of the tax breaks enacted in 2008 reveals two premium tax breaks for insurance companies, and tax exemption on fuel used by pig farmers and up to $50 million in tax credits for donors (corporate or individual) to private school scholarship funds.  Thirty five special interest tax breaks enacted between 2005 and 2008 amount to $333 million in lost revenue in the FY2010 budget.  The 17 special interest tax break bills enacted in 2009 will cost Georgia another $99 million in lost revenues.

Furthermore, Georgia should join the 39 other states who now require regular reporting of the cost of special interest tax breaks.  As Governor, I will demand a comprehensive tax expenditure analysis as a means of reviewing all tax breaks to make sure we protect our most precious investments as a state such as education."

About David Poythress

Lieutenant General (Ret.) David Poythress is the immediate past Commander of the Georgia Army and Air National Guard.  He previously served as Georgia's Commissioner of Labor and Secretary of State, and he is a Democratic candidate for Governor in 2010.