Statement of Governor Sonny Perdue Regarding Budget Agreement

Atlanta - Governor Sonny Perdue issued the following statement regarding an agreement reached late this afternoon by House and Senate conferees on the FY04 supplemental budget:

"I am pleased that the House and Senate budget conferees have come to a preliminary agreement on the supplemental budget for 2004.

"While the details are worked out, I am directing the Department of Human Resources to release $57 million in Medicaid pre-payment funds to the Department of Community Health to begin processing Medicaid payments immediately."