Governor Perdue Signs FY06 and Supplemental FY05 Budgets

Vetoes More than $34 Million in Bond Projects, More than $6 Million from Judiciary Budget

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue today signed into law House Bill 85 which authorizes Georgia's Fiscal Year 2006 Budget and House Bill 84 which authorizes the Supplemental Fiscal Year 2005 Budget. Governor Perdue vetoed 12 bond projects worth $34,140,000 and vetoed $6,348,066 from the Judiciary budget ($5,465,257 from the Prosecuting Attorney's Council and $882,809 from the Council for Superior Court Judges).

“After carefully reviewing the bond projects included in this budget, I vetoed the projects that were not priorities for the state agencies. This reflects my belief that we base our funding decisions on the real needs of Georgia citizens and not on political power or influence.

“And at a time when the rest of state government was working diligently to trim the fat from our state budget, the Judiciary Branch continued to submit recommendations that were increasing well beyond the budget growth rate. I expect the Judiciary Branch to live by the same means as everyone else, and I'm confident they can readjust their budget to meet the needs of the councils for Prosecuting Attorneys and Superior Court Judges.”

Due to separation of powers, Governor Perdue's only tool for managing the growth of the Judiciary budget is the line-item veto. With the vetoes, the FY06 Judiciary budget still reflects an increase over the FY05 budget.

Governor Perdue issued line-item vetoes in the FY06 budget for the following:

Section 8, pertaining to the Prosecuting Attorneys, page 5 of 85:

In the appropriations for the Prosecuting Attorneys, the Prosecuting Attorney's Council Program is to be appropriated $5,465,257. This program can be funded through the transfer of funds from the District Attorneys Program within the Prosecuting Attorneys Budget Unit. Therefore, the $5,465,257 for the program (page 5 of 85, lines 74 through 76) in the provisions relative to Section 8, Prosecuting Attorneys is vetoed.

Section 10, pertaining to the Superior Courts, page 6 of 85:

In the appropriations for the Superior Courts, the Council of Superior Court Judges Program is to be appropriated $882,809. This program can be funded through the transfer of funds from the other programs within the Superior Courts Budget Unit. Therefore, the $882,809 for the program (page 6 of 85, lines 90 through 92) in the provisions relative to Section 10, Superior Courts is vetoed.

Section 23, pertaining to the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia, page 28 of 85:

Language relative to the Public School Employees' Retirement System, a program of the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia reads: “It is the intent of the General Assembly that the employer contribution for Public School Employees' Retirement System shall not exceed $23.35 per member for State Fiscal Year 2005.” The appropriations in HB 85 increased the benefit accrual rate per member by $0.50, from $13.00 to $13.50. However, the actuarial study to determine the actual employer contribution for the upcoming fiscal year 2006 has not been complete. Therefore, this language (page 28 of 85) in the provisions relative to Section 23, Employees' Retirement System of Georgia is incorrect and must be vetoed.

Section 33, pertaining to the Department of Motor Vehicle Safety, page 50 of 85, lines 1265 through 1267:

In the appropriations for the Department of Motor Vehicle Safety, the Motorcycle Safety Program is to be appropriated $100,000. This program is currently funded through fees paid by applicants. The department did not request these funds. Therefore, the $100,000 for this program (page 50 of 85, lines 1265 through 1267) in the provisions relative to Section 33, Department of Motor Vehicle Safety is vetoed.

Section 48, pertaining to the General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund, page 74 of 85, BOND #12:

This language authorizes the appropriation of $192,360 to finance projects and facilities of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, specifically for library and classrooms expansion to Building A at Waycross College, through the issuance of not more than $2,290,000 in principal amount of General Obligation Debt for 20 years. This project is one of several minor projects on the Fiscal Year 2006 capital budget list of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. A more thorough process needs to be developed to evaluate and prioritize projects of this type. Therefore, this language (page 74 of 85, BOND #12) in the provisions relative to Section 48, General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund is vetoed.

Section 48, pertaining to the General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund, page 74 of 85, BOND #13:

This language authorizes the appropriation of $411,600 to finance projects and facilities of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, specifically for the minors renovation of the Historic Civil Engineering Building at Georgia Tech, through the issuance of not more than $4,900,000 in principal amount of General Obligation Debt for 20 years. This project is one of several minor projects on the Fiscal Year 2006 capital budget list of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. A more thorough process needs to be developed to evaluate and prioritize projects of this type. Therefore, this language (page 74 of 85, BOND #13) in the provisions relative to Section 48, General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund is vetoed.

Section 48, pertaining to the General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund, page 74 of 85, BOND #14:

This language authorizes the appropriation of $411,600 to finance projects and facilities of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, specifically for the minors renovation of the Social Science Library and Wilson Buildings at Kennesaw State University, through the issuance of not more than $4,900,000 in principal amount of General Obligation Debt for 20 years. This project is one of several minor projects on the Fiscal Year 2006 capital budget list of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. A more thorough process needs to be developed to evaluate and prioritize projects of this type. Therefore, this language (page 74 of 85, BOND #14) in the provisions relative to Section 48, General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund is vetoed.

Section 48, pertaining to the General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund, page 74 of 85, BOND #16:

This language authorizes the appropriation of $420,000 to finance projects and facilities of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, specifically for the Student Center addition at Gainesville College, through the issuance of not more than $5,000,000 in principal amount of General Obligation Debt for 20 years. This project is one of several minor projects on the Fiscal Year 2006 capital budget list of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. A more thorough process needs to be developed to evaluate and prioritize projects of this type. Therefore, this language (page 74 of 85, BOND #16) in the provisions relative to Section 48, General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund is vetoed.

Section 48, pertaining to the General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund, page 74 of 85, BOND #18:

This language authorizes the appropriation of $67,200 to finance projects and facilities of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, specifically for infrastructure improvements for East Georgia College, through the issuance of not more than $800,000 in principal amount of General Obligation Debt for 20 years. This project does not appear on the Fiscal Year 2006 capital budget priority list of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. Therefore, this language (page 74 of 85, BOND #18) in the provisions relative to Section 48, General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund is vetoed.

Section 48, pertaining to the General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund, page 74 of 85, BOND #19:

This language authorizes the appropriation of $420,000 to finance projects and facilities of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, specifically for the University of Georgia for the Animal and Diary Livestock Facilities in Oglethorpe County, through the issuance of not more than $5,000,000 in principal amount of General Obligation Debt for 20 years. This project does not appear on the Fiscal Year 2006 capital budget priority list of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. Therefore, this language (page 74 of 85, BOND #19) in the provisions relative to Section 48, General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund is vetoed.

Section 48, pertaining to the General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund, page 74 of 85, BOND #20:

This language authorizes the appropriation of $416,640 to finance projects and facilities of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, specifically for Dalton State University for the construction of the Vocational Technical Building, through the issuance of not more than $4,960,000 in principal amount of General Obligation Debt for 20 years. This project is one of several minor projects on the

Fiscal Year 2006 capital budget list of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. A more thorough process needs to be developed to evaluate and prioritize projects of this type. Therefore, this language (page 74 of 85, BOND #20) in the provisions relative to Section 48, General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund is vetoed.

Section 48, pertaining to the General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund, page 75 of 85, BOND #21:

This language authorizes the appropriation of $243,600 to finance projects and facilities of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, specifically for Armstrong Atlantic University for the renovation of Jenkins Hall, through the issuance of not more than $2,900,000 in principal amount of General Obligation Debt for 20 years. This project is one of several minor projects on the Fiscal Year 2006 capital budget list of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. A more thorough process needs to be developed to evaluate and prioritize projects of this type. Therefore, this language (page 75 of 85, BOND #21) in the provisions relative to Section 48, General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund is vetoed.

Section 48, pertaining to the General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund, page 75 of 85, BOND #26:

This language authorizes the appropriation of $84,000 to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, to provide public library facilities by grant to the governing board of the Hall County Public Library for that library, through the issuance of not more than $1,000,000 in principal amount of General Obligation Debt for 20 years. This project does not appear on the Fiscal Year 2006 capital budget priority list of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. Therefore, this language (page 75 of 85, BOND #26) in the provisions relative to Section 48, General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund is vetoed.

Section 48, pertaining to the General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund, page 75 of 85, BOND #31:

This language authorizes the appropriation of $44,200 to finance projects and facilities for the Department of Technical and Adult Education, specifically to purchase equipment for Appalachian Technical College, the Woodstock Campus, through the issuance of not more than $200,000 in principal amount of General Obligation Debt for 5 years. This project does not appear on any priority list for the Department of Technical and Adult Education. Therefore, this language (page 75 of 85, BOND #31) in the provisions relative to Section 48, General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund is vetoed.

Section 48, pertaining to the General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund, page 76 of 85, BOND #33:

This language authorizes the appropriation of $15,960 to finance projects and facilities for the Department of Technical and Adult Education, specifically for design of the West Central Technical College, Douglas Campus, through the issuance of not more than $190,000 in principal amount of General Obligation Debt for 20 years. This project does not appear on any priority list for the Department of Technical and Adult Education. Therefore, this language (page 76 of 85, BOND #33) in the provisions relative to Section 48, General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund is vetoed.

Section 48, pertaining to the General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund, page 80 of 85, BOND #77:

This language authorizes the appropriation of $168,000 to finance projects and facilities for the Department of Agriculture, specifically for renovations to State Farmers' Markets, through the issuance of not more than $2,000,000 in principal amount of General Obligation Debt for 20 years. Currently, there are $2 million of yet unsold bonds specifically for the State Farmers' Markets renovations. Therefore, this language (page 80 of 85, BOND #77) in the provisions relative to Section 48, General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund is vetoed.