Legislative update: a briefing for faculty and staff of the University System of Georgia, No. 4 (Feb. 3, 2003)

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
A Briefing for Faculty & Staff of the University System of Georgia
"Creating a More Educated Georgia"

No. 4, Feb. 3, 2003

Excerpts From Gov. Perdue's State of the State Address

Gov. Sonny Perdue delivered the 2003 State of the State Address on Jan. 27. Excerpts from his prepared remarks follow:
My fellow Georgians, tonight I am honored to come before you to report on the state of our great state. We gather together at a moment of dramatic changes in Georgia -- changes in how we work, in how we live, and in how we are governed.
... The mandate I heard on Nov. 5 was

that Democrats and Republicans must now work together for the benefit of Georgia.
These political changes may be upsetting to some, exciting to others, but they merely reflect bigger changes in our state as a whole.
Our population has more than doubled since 1960, and it has grown increasingly diverse. Those of us born in Georgia have welcomed millions of new neighbors over the years.

These new Georgians have come to get an education, to find jobs and to start businesses. They've come to raise families and to retire. They've come because anyone who looks can plainly see what a blessing it is to live in Georgia.
Restoring Trust
... Throughout my campaign last year ... I promised to work every day to restore public trust in government and to make state government more responsive to the public voice.

Why is trust so important to me, and to Georgians? The answer is simple -- trust is the cornerstone of our society. From individuals to a family, to a nation, no order can be maintained and no progress can be sustained without trust.
... The most fundamental way the people express their trust is in the voting booth. The citizens of Georgia are entitled to elect representatives who truly reflect their commun-
See "Perdue," Page 2 ...

Meredith: USG Operating With Fewer Dollars, More Students Than Last Year

Last week, Chancellor Thomas C. Meredith had another chance to stress to legislators how tightly stretched the resources are for public higher education in Georgia. He addressed the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education on the Fiscal Year 2003 Amended Budget on Jan. 30.
"The bottom line is that your University

System of Georgia -- its 34 institutions -- are working today with less dollars than were available in FY '02," Meredith began, adding that student enrollment has grown 7 percent during the past year, to an all-time high of 233,098 students.
"To put this in perspective, we added the equivalent of another Georgia Tech this past fall," the chancellor

said. "On almost every campus, we are serving more students. ... and we expect significant increases in enrollment to continue for another eight to 10 years."
A series of cuts to the FY '03 Budget already have amounted to a loss of $184 million for the University System.
"That's 10.6 percent of our state funding," Meredith pointed out.

"The gap between the dollars needed to serve students and the number of students just keeps widening," he said. To illustrate this point, he offered the following scenario. "If in 2001 we had $100 to feed 100 students, today we have only $90 to feed 113 students."
"You haven't heard us whine or grouse about our cuts,"
See "Meredith," Page 4 ...

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE -- February 3, 2003, Issue No. 4

Perdue
Continued from Page 1...
ities' values and speak for their communities' interests.
Redistricting
... We must align our districts with democratic principles, not partisan politics. ... Counties, precincts and communities of interest should remain intact.
With that in mind, I have asked Attorney General [Thurbert] Baker to withdraw the state's appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court. The challenges of redistricting should be addressed at home, by Georgians, in Georgia's legislature. Working with my floor leaders, we will be introducing legislation highlighting the principles I have just outlined.
Fueling the economy
... Georgia's economy, along with the national and world economy, is changing. Knowledge is the new economic fuel, not physical labor. It is the essential ingredient for success in this information age.
Providing all our citizens with the knowledge, skills and training they need to compete in the information

economy is the best

is K-12, and that foun-

economic-development dation does have some

plan we can have. Edu- cracks we need to

cation and workforce mend. We have strong

training will prepare bookends in place,

our people for the jobs. bracketing the K-12

We will continue to system.

welcome outside com-

Two solid pillars of

panies relocating to

our commitment to

Georgia. However, to education are two of

achieve real leader-

the nation's most

ship, we have to grow innovative programs

our own companies

-- the pre-kindergar-

and develop our own ten program and the

industries, based on

HOPE Scholarship. I

our own innovations. will protect these pro-

... I want the world to beat a path to Georgia's door. I want companies from around the world bidding to license the best innovations and latest technological breakthroughs from Georgia universities, companies

grams. I have already proposed that in the future Georgia Lottery funds be reserved for these two programs alone. These are two Georgia success stories that lay the foundation for many successes to come.

and research centers.

But despite these

To make that hap- strengths, Georgia's pen, I'm undertaking a education system is comprehensive review not what it should be.

of our tax policies and The National

our state regulations Assessment of Edu-

with an eye toward

cation Progress ...

reforming them to

shows Georgia is behind

encourage, not frus- the national average on

trate, entrepreneur- reading, writing, math

ship in our state.

and science. For each of

Education
... Children ... deserve a quality education. That's why we have devoted 55 percent of our state budget to education, and that commitment shows.
The foundation of our education system

those subjects, more than 50 percent of Georgia children are below the proficient level.
Georgia also has one of the lowest highschool graduation rates in the nation. And, to our shame, we rank 50th in SAT scores.

-- 2 --

We can sum up our report card in two words: "Needs improvement."
Improving Education
To improve our educational performance, I will work in the areas of accountability, cooperation and respect.
We have a good start on accountability, with a system setting high standards and high expectations for our schools. But we need to build on and improve the Georgia system. In consultation with parents, teachers and local educators, we'll do just that. We've set high goals. To reach them, everyone involved in the education process must work together.
To improve the level of cooperation, we're going to put the Department of Education back together. We'll place the Office of Accountability back in the Department [of Education], but reporting to the State Board of Education, similar to a corporate audit function.
We'll also work to reconstitute other educational functions back into the Department of Education so that local school offi-
See "Perdue," Page 3 ...

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE -- February 3, 2003, Issue No. 4

Meredith
Continued from Page 1...
Meredith said. "We understand the situation. However, there is a price for the state and its students to pay when we consider cutting back a system that is a national leader."
The price has come in the form of larger class sizes, fewer sections, the cancellation of some classes and increased case loads for financial aid counselors and academic advisors -- in other words, a reduction in services.
Among the most critical items in the FY '03 Amended Budget is funding to help the University System deal with the rising cost of providing health insurance for its employees, the chancellor told legislators.
A recommendation to allocate $4 million for this purpose "will cover around 57 percent of the projected increase in healthinsurance premiums for the current fiscal year," he said. "That means our institutions will have to find the remaining $3 million within their existing budgets to pay the employer share of these premiums."

Another important budget item is the Education, Technology and Construction Trust (ETACT) Fund, which provides critical funds for the purchase of equipment, installation of infrastructure, and renovation and construction of facilities related to technology. These funds come from Georgia Lottery proceeds and are matched with private dollars.
Unfortunately, the chancellor said, only $12 million of the requested $15 million has been recommended for allocation.
Meredith also expressed concern that one of the University System's outstanding public/private partnership programs, the Eminent Scholars Program, was not recommended for funding in the FY '03 Amended Budget.
This program allows USG institutions to bring in top quality faculty scholars with contributions from the private sector that are matched by the state. The program currently has a backlog of 17 positions on nine campuses. At least $10 million in private commitments are awaiting a state match of $7 million before the

scholars' positions can be created.
"Eminent scholar positions draw some of the world's top faculty to Georgia, and along with them come federal and private research grant funding and often existing or new support businesses for their research," Meredith said. "This means economic growth for Georgia."
This is just one example of how the University System helps to fuel Georgia's economic growth, the chancellor told legislators, citing a statistic used by Georgia Tech President Wayne Clough in a presentation on Georgia's hightech industry to the Budgetary Responsibility Oversight Committee on Jan. 24. Industry leaders considered it bad news that the state added only 3,500 new high-tech jobs in 2001, compared to 14,600 in 2000.
But those 3,500 jobs were more than were created in any other state in the nation, making Georgia No. 1 in technology job growth for 2001.
"That's a powerful example of the value of public higher education," Meredith said.

Perdue
Continued from Page 2...
cials no longer have to thumb through the Yellow Pages to know who to call for the answers they need.
I, along with our Board of Education, will work in concert with Superintendent [Kathy] Cox so that Georgia's education team is operating from the same lesson plan.
This spirit of cooperation extends especially to our teachers and local educators. I am personally committed to including them in our policymaking process.
While 57 percent of our teachers have earned pay raises this year, we simply can't afford to give an across-the-board costof-living increase to everyone right now. It is less than we want to do for our teachers. But when the budget situation improves, we will give our teachers a raise.
The state of the state is still good, but it can be better.
... Safe, educated, healthy and growing stronger every day ... that's our destination. And we'll reach it together.

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE -- February 3, 2003, Issue No. 4
Charting the Committees Part II
Valuable information on House and Senate committees in the 2003 General Assembly is now posted on the USG web site. Point your browser to www.usg.edu/pubs/ and click on "General Assembly." When the Legislative Affairs page opens, look under "Organizations" for a particular committee. Clicking on a committee member's name will yield the individual's contact information and committee assignments.

House Approriations Committee

Chair: Tom Buck, Columbus
Vice Chair: Mickey Channell, Greensboro
Secretary: Tyrone Brooks, Atlanta
Members: Kathy Ashe, Atlanta Charles Bannister, Lilburn Terry Barnard, Glennville Mike Barnes, Hampton Sharon Beasley-Teague, Fairburn Ellis Black, Valdosta Gail Buckner, Jonesboro Tom Campbell, Roswell Buddy Childers, Rome Michael Coan, Lawrenceville Mack Crawford, Concord Bill Cummings, Rockmart Burke Day, Tybee Island Buddy DeLoach, Hinesville Winfred Dukes, Albany Earl Ehrhart, Powder Springs Johnny Floyd, Cordele Gerald Greene, Cuthbert Bob Hanner, Parrott Ben Harbin, Evans Keith Heard, Athens Bill Hembree, Douglasville Michele Henson, Stone Mountain Bob Holmes, Atlanta Henry Howard, Augusta Lester Jackson, Savannah Lynmore James, Montezuma Jeanette Jamieson, Toccoa Curtis Jenkins, Forsyth

Bob Lane, Statesboro David Lucas, Macon George Maddox, Decatur Judy Manning, Marietta Louise McBee, Athens Greg Morris, Vidalia Hinson Mosley, Jesup Mary Margaret Oliver, Atlanta Nan Orrock, Atlanta Bobby Parham, Milledgeville Butch Parrish, Swainsboro Don Parsons, Marietta DuBose Porter, Dublin Alan Powell, Hartwell Ann Purcell, Rincon Robert Ray, Fort Valley Lawrence Roberts, Albany Carl Rogers, Gainesville Richard Royal, Camilla (ex officio) Jay Shaw, Lakeland Chuck Sims, Ambrose (ex officio) Georganna Sinkfield, Atlanta Jimmy Skipper, Americus Lynn Smith, Newnan Paul Smith, Rome Tommy Smith, Nicholls Calvin Smyre, Columbus Mike Snow, Chickamauga Ron Stephens, Garden City Ralph Twiggs, Hiawassee Larry Walker, Perry Lynn Westmoreland, Sharpsburg John Yates, Griffin

House Retirement Committee

Chair: Bill Cummings, Rockmart
Vice Chair: Ellis Black, Valdosta
Secretary: Earnest "Coach" Williams, Stone Mountain
Members: Tyrone Brooks, Atlanta Hugh Broome, Donalsonville Brooks Coleman, Duluth Winfred Dukes, Albany

Roger Hines, Kennesaw Lester Jackson, Savannah John Lunsford, McDonough Howard Maxwell, Dallas Louise McBee, Athens James Mills, Gainesville Vance Smith, Pine Mountain
-- 4 --

Senate Approriations Committee
Chair: Jack Hill, Reidsville
Vice Chair: Tommie Williams, Lyons
Secretary: Eric Johnson, Savannah
Members: Don Balfour, Snellville Peg Blitch, Homerville Roony Bowen, Cordele Joey Brush, Martinez Casey Cagle, Gainesville Don Cheeks, Augusta Chuck Clay, Marietta Ginger Collins, Smyrna Mike Crotts, Conyers Hugh Gillis, Soperton Tim Golden, Valdosta Randy Hall, Augusta George Hooks, Americus Brian Kemp, Athens Robert Lamutt, Marietta Dan Lee, LaGrange Michael Meyer Von Bremen, Albany Jeff Mullis, Chickamauga Tom Price, Roswell Mitch Seabaugh, Sharpsburg Terrell Starr, Jonesboro Horacena Tate, Atlanta Don Thomas, Dalton Nadine Thomas, Decatur Regina Thomas, Savannah Steve Thompson, Powder Springs
Senate Retirement Committee
Chair: Ralph Hudgens, Comer
Vice Chair: Mitch Seabaugh, Sharpsburg
Secretary: Vincent Fort, Atlanta
Members: John Bulloch, Ochlocknee Karim Reed, Atlanta Horacena Tate, Atlanta Ross Tolleson, Perry Bill Stephens, Canton (ex officio)