Press release, Jan. 14, 2004

Wednesday, January 14, 2004

Contact: Office of Communications 404-651-7774

Governor Perdue Focuses on Children, Education, and Jobs During State of the State Address

Promises No Tax Increases and Encourages Legislature to Support Ethics Reform
Atlanta - Before a joint session of the Georgia legislature, Governor Sonny Perdue outlined his vision for the State of Georgia during the annual State of the State address in the House Chamber of the Capitol. Governor Perdue formally submitted his priority-based Fy05 budget and focused on his priorities for children, education, and jobs. The Fy05 revenue estimate of $15.3 billion is based on a conservative projection of 4.72% growth in revenue.
"Across all lines of race, religion, and economic status, Georgians believe that our children are the most precious resource we have," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "Young and old, urban and rural, Georgians are united in our desire to protect our children. They are also united in wanting good jobs, a growing economy, and lasting prosperity."
Living Within Our Means Without Raising Taxes
Last summer, Governor Perdue directed every state department to identify its core mission, associate a cost with every program, identify core customers, and rank programs in priority order. The result is a responsible and balanced budget based on priorities. A key component of the Governor's balanced budget is that it contains no tax increases of any kind.
"I will not allow anyone to make your struggle harder by reaching deeper into your pocket with a tax increase," said Governor Perdue to the citizens of Georgia. "If you have to live within your means, state government will too. We will not raise taxes to balance this budget."
Caring for Georgia's Most Precious Resource
Georgia remains the only state without a child abuse felony statute that includes criminally negligent behavior. Governor Perdue outlined his Child Protection Package of 2004 during his speech. This package will help protect children from abusive caregivers, make it illegal to manufacture methamphetamine in the presence of children, and improve the effectiveness of Levi's Call, Georgia's version of the Amber Alert system.
"Enacting child protection has enjoyed unprecedented bipartisan support and I look forward to working with all of you to get this done for all children this year," said Perdue.
Governor Perdue has directed new leadership, new procedures, and new technology to the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS). DFCS Director Oliva is in the process of reorganizing and revitalizing the agency. To further reform and reorganize DFCS, the Governor's budget transfers 65 caseworker positions to work with local county offices where they are needed most. The reorganization will help improve morale, begin to address turnover rate, and address case loads.
The Governor's budget for children also includes almost $24 million to pay for a new "Levels of Care" approach for children in the child protection system. Children will be placed in an appropriate level of care based on their individual needs. PeachCare, Georgia's health insurance program for children, is also preserved in the budget.
A final priority for children included in the Governor's address was the Faith and Family Services Amendment to the Georgia Constitution. Governor Perdue has proposed aligning the Georgia Constitution with the U.S. Constitution to ensure that faith-based providers can compete fairly without facing discrimination.
"Faith based organizations provide critical services to children, seniors, battered women, the disabled, the homeless, and other at-risk groups. But our Georgia Constitution is out of step with the U.S Constitution in this area. It discriminates against faith-based providers," said Perdue. "I'm asking you to pass the Faith and Family Services Amendment and put it on the ballot this November so the people can decide if faith-based services will continue to be there for children and others who need our help."

Improving and Strengthening Education for the Future
Governor Perdue outlined his " GeorgiaLearns.com " education package which will inspire and empower students, parents, teachers and other educators to meet higher standards of accountability and achievement. The website is available at www.georgialearns.com . GeorgiaLearns.com will focus on giving local schools and systems the flexibility they need to reach high accountability standards.
"We want to get our children on the fast track for learning at an early age. We want our kids to get a bright start," said Perdue.
To support Georgia's teachers, Governor Perdue's budget recommendations include a two-percent raise for teachers. Veteran teachers will get an additional pay increase. The Governor's plan will give a total fivepercent pay increase to nearly seventy-five percent of teachers statewide.
"Along with active, engaged parents, one of the best things we can do for education is to attract and keep the best teachers in our classrooms," said Perdue.
Respect for teachers in the classroom and strengthening school discipline is another critical component to supporting the state's educators and improving education. GeorgiaLearns.com will make it clear to disruptive students that teachers are in charge of the classroom. Students will lose their driving privileges if they disrupt the learning process.
"Disruptive students will get the message that they must respect their teachers and their fellow students," said Perdue.
Governor Perdue proposed a reorganization of the Office of School Readiness (OSR) as "Bright from the Start - Georgia's Office of Early Care and Education." The Bright from the Start office will ensure that every child enters kindergarten ready for success in school. It will improve coordination among Georgia's wide array of early childhood programs, including the pre-K program and Smart Start. This realignment will eliminate duplication and bureaucracy, ensure more money goes directly to benefit children's early learning, and infuse early childcare centers with a greater culture of education.
To improve SAT scores, Governor Perdue proposed adding an SAT component to the HOPE Scholarship. The Governor's plan would not prevent any students from receiving the scholarship. Scoring below 900 on the SAT would merely require that the student be checked for HOPE eligibility after one semester, as opposed to being checked after two semesters.
"Georgia must improve our SAT scores. I am not satisfied with 50th place, and I am determined to get Georgia's SAT scores out of the basement, whatever it takes," said Perdue. "I believe that linking the SAT to HOPE will motivate students to take the test seriously and will lead to better preparation for college and higher SAT scores."
Governor Perdue also expressed his support of the recommendations of the bipartisan HOPE Study Commission led by Representative Louise McBee and Senator Bill Hamrick.
"So let me make one thing clear, and I want you to hear me-the HOPE scholarship isn't going anywhere. It will be there for your kids and your grandkids and beyond," added Perdue.
The Governor's budget recommendations will also help poorer school districts by providing $62 million in added relief to the poorest of the state's school districts.
Creating Jobs and Opportunity for All Georgians
Governor Perdue is focused on getting Georgians back to work. "Georgia Works," the Governor's economic development program, will create jobs and build a strong 21st century economy for the state by helping existing industries grow, encouraging entrepreneurship, and investing in the jobs of the future.
"We're all encouraged by growing signs that an economic recovery is getting started. In fact, last year, Georgia was second in the nation in job creation, but I know it doesn't feel that way in every part of the state," said Perdue. "Metro Atlanta gained more jobs last year than any other U.S. city, but I will not be satisfied until all of Georgia experiences job recovery and growth."
The Governor's budget recommendations include a $1 billion dollar investment in the future of our state in the form of a bond package for transportation and other economic development projects. The Governor also announced plans for a multi-year funding and construction strategy aimed at relieving congestion and promoting economic development.

"Georgia doesn't have time to be stuck in traffic anymore. It's time to get congestion relief going so we can get Georgia going," said Perdue.
Included in the bond package for economic development is $28 million for improvements to the Garden City port terminal in Savannah and $14 million for deepening the Brunswick harbor.
Investment in Georgia's workforce will include $176 million for school construction and improvements and $47 million for expansions, improvements, and equipment for the Department of Adult and Technical Education campuses statewide.
To make critical investments in the growth industries of the future that will create the jobs of the future, Governor Perdue is committed to building the laboratory infrastructure necessary to attract the top researchers whose breakthroughs will lead to new products, new companies, and high-paying new jobs. The Georgia Works bond package includes $10 million toward a state of the art biocontainment building at the University of Georgia, $5 million for the Medical College of Georgia Research Initiative, and $2 million toward a $45 million state commitment to construct a world class Nanotechnology Research Center at Georgia Tech.
While contributing more than $25 billion and hundreds of thousands of jobs to our state's economy, Georgia's military installations are facing a new round of closures and realignments scheduled for 2005. The Governor is committed to working with base communities to secure Georgia's military installations for the future.
"Our base communities and our state are doing all we can to demonstrate our support for our troops and for the vital missions they perform. We're doing all we can to let the best military fighting force in the world know they have a home here in Georgia," said Perdue.
Restoring Trust and Integrity to State Government
Governor Perdue stressed the need for ethics reform in Georgia and called upon the General Assembly to pass his Honesty in Government bill. Despite passing the Senate unanimously last year, the bill died in the State House.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we're all for it and I think we all sense from our constituents and among ourselves that the time has come to enact strong ethics reform in Georgia," said Perdue.
Provisions of the ethics bill include closing the revolving door on lobbying by recent public officials, banning solicitation of campaign funds while the legislature is in session, and requiring greater financial disclosure by candidates, office-holders, and lobbyists.
Background briefing document on the Governor's budget .
Prepared text of the Governor's State of the State address .
The Fy05 budget will be available on the web tomorrow at http://www.opb.state.ga.us/ .
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