Press release [Jan. 14, 2004B]

1-1929-5083

House Information Office Room 505, Legislative Office Building
Atlanta, Georgia 30334 404-656-5082 1-800-282-5800
January 14, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Local Representative Receives Key Budget Writing Assignment

Atlanta State Rep. Lynn Smith (R-Newnan) was tapped to vice-chair the Fiscal Management Sub-Committees of the House Appropriations Committee. She was named to the post by House Appropriations Chairman Tom Buck (D-Columbus).

The Fiscal Affairs Sub-Committee has 11 members and makes budget recommendations for Audits, Banking and & Finance, Revenue, Employee Retirement, Public School Retirement, Teachers Retirement and the Georgia Technology Authority.

"These are tough economic times and I will do all I can to ensure the critical needs that my committee oversees are properly funded," said Smith. "I would like to thank Chairman Buck for my appointment and look forward to working with the other committee members."

Rep Smith and other lawmakers on the Appropriations Committee were recently briefed on the Governor's proposed mid-year adjustment to the current $16 billion state budget that ends June 30th. Although Georgia's economy has seen some modest growth over the first half of FY 2004, the state faces a deficit that could reach $1 billion because of a revenue shortfall.

Governor Perdue has ordered all state agency heads to trim an additional 2.5 percent from their current operating budgets, with a 5 percent reduction likely to be mandated during FY 2005.

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For further information please contact Rep. Smith's office at 404-656-7859.