State of the State address by Governor Carl E. Sanders to the General Assembly of Georgia, January 15, 1964

8LEASE: At 12 o'clock noon, Wednesday, January 15, 1964.
(Text of the State of the State address by Governor Carl E. Sanders to the General Assembly of Georgia in joint session of the House and Senate, State Capitol, at 12 o'clock noon, Wednesday, January 15, 1964e The Governor's address was telecast and broadcast over a statewide network of television and radio stations.)
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GEER, SPEAKER SMITH, DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AND _OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, HONORED GUESTS, MY FELLOW GEORGIANS:
It is with humility and a deep sense of pride that I come before this deliberative body today, knowing that you constitute the chosen leadership of a modern people, in amodern State, during a modern time.
I am especially pleased to be with you, for I believe, indeed, I know, that when the record of accomplishment is written, it will show that this membership comprises.the best and the most productive General Assembly in the history of our grand old State.
Your performance i~ behalf of the people of Georgia last year, during the first Session of the 1963-64 General Assembly, was historic.
The people benefited, because of your work. The State progressed, because of your dedication. The public trust in elected officials reached a new high, because of your integrity. Let me tell you here and now that, as Governor, I am proud of this Legislature, of every man here, and I consider myself honored for the privilege of association with you both collectively and individually. As we begin the new year, this General Assembly and the Administration, can take pride in the solid gains and accomplishments of the State during the calendar year 1963.

Dur inq that year --

We saw employment at an all-time high.

We saw farm production set unparalleled records for income.

We saw education, the University System, hi.qhways, family and

children services, the Youth Division, public and mental health, and other

State services move to the hiqhest levels of efficjenr;y and productivity in

history.

Industrialization spurred the economy throughout the State.

We also made a beginning toward achieving maJor reform in our

penal system.

All of this is to say that, despite the gravity of the problems

we face today, our accomplishments have been significant and impressive.

Every body of statistics indicates that we are living in a Georgia

that is growing -- a Georgia on the move.

The State of the State has never been better~

Yes, it was a good year for Georgia and her citizens. We moved

ahead, but we cannot be content with the victories of last year, for our

direction is to the future rather than the past.

One year ago, in this same Chamber and before this same General

Assembly, I proposed a budget of nearly a billion dollars for the biennium.

You accepted andapproved that budget, and you did so in the face of some

suggestions that the budget was unreasonable and unrealistic.

Well, my friends, you and I are here today to say to the world

and the citizens of our State that we were right. Our State has prospered

and even surpassed what anyone thought she could do.

Indeed, our future has never been so bright as today.

But we must not be satisfied with the comforts of a fleeting mo-

ment, or the victory of balancing the Budget, for the winds of change are

sweeping those states which surround us, and with which our .people must

compete for jobs and economic security.

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We are meeting today in what may well be the most critical session of the General Assembly i~ this century.
Our greatest need, in my judgment, and I believe in yours, falls within the broad spectrum of education.
It is in this field that Georgia stands to gain the most. Therefore, it is in this field that Georgia must be prepared togive the most. A little over eighteen months ago, I addressed myself to the people of .Georgia and asked that they entrust me with the responsibility of leadership of this State, and I proposed a solemn declaration of principles which would be pursued in the Sanders Administration. You and I, together with all forward-looking Georgians pledged ourselves to a plan of improvement for education at all levels. It was at our Session last year, and our first meeting together, that we recognized and took initial action to fulfill this obligation by creating the Commission to Improve Education. And now we come together to assume the responsibility that is ours. It is a solemn responsibility -Responsibility to the children all Georgia children. Responsibility to the teachers of Georgia. Responsibility to improve the economy of our State. Responsibility to bring Georgia to her full stature. Ask any parent Ask any citizen Ask yourself -What specifically does this entail?
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We all know that talented children are leaving the classrooms for lack of challenge dedicated teachers are leaving the profession because of inadequate pay.
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classrooms are both empty and overcrowded at the same time, depending on where they are located
our curricula have not developed in pace with the technological advances of the Space Age
in short, we have been trying to prepare children for the future on the basis of a school system grounded in the past.
What must be done? To men of conscience, which I know you are, there can be only one answer. We must enact and implement a new Master Plan for Education in Georgia.
As you know, I spoke to the people of our State last week by
television and radio, outlining the program and listing the proposals which I recommend to you today. The principal function of this program is to strengthen our schools and colleges so that
first, for every education dollar spent we will receive a dollar's value
and second, public education in Georgia at a 1 I I evels is quality education for all Georgians.
You will recall that when we met here this time last year we talked extensively about inadequate local financial support and its harmful effect on the entire educational system.
Georgia is in the contradictory position of being sixth from the top in State financial support, and seventh from the bottom in local support for education -- all of which means, to put it in blunt terms, that a number of our school systems have been operating almost solely on State funds.
It is clear, therefore, that there can be no solutionto Georgia's educational problems until this basic defect in our system is corrected.
This is the place we must start. Until we act here, we will be wasting our ti~e talking about anything else.
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Last January I stated that I was unwilling to request that further amounts of money be pumped into the present antiquated educational formula, until you and I were afforded the opportunity to have a closer look at how funds are being spent.
Through the Commission to Improve Education, and the Commission for Efficiency and Improvement in Government, we have had that look, and it is as a result of the proposals of these Commissions that I am today submitting to you a legislative program of corrective action.
In its broad outline, this program will: (1) assure uniform minimum standards for all public schools in Georgia; (2) establish an equalized tax digest for education, in place of the old economic index formula for determining the amount of State educational funds to be distributed to local systems; (3) establish a realistic teacher salary schedule, based upon current economic conditions, merit and tenure, and the allotment of one teacher for every twenty-five pupils in high schools, and one to every twenty-eight in elementary schools; (4) allot school construction funds on the basis of need and where the children are; (5) remove the 20-mill limitation on local school taxes, only when counties cannot, and to the extent necessary, for counties to produce their fair share of the required State matching funds; (6) authorize counties to increase their local school bonding capacity from seven to ten per cent, so that they can build schools when needed, and at more favorable interest rates; (7) require a pre-audit of educational programs and a system of competitive bidding on school supplies and equipment; (8) allow State money to follow the child, and approve school system consolidations without the loss of State funds; (9) provide better cost accounting on school transpor.tation aro ment establish/of uniform standards;
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(10) authorize the State Board to extend the school year, and to participate in summer programs, making available the use of our school facilities on a year-round basis;
(11) provide for the continued operation of isolated schools, thus assuring an education for children in remote areas which cannot normally provide sufficient funds to meet minimum standard requirements;
(12) statutorily require that local systems put up their fair share of local funds for education, or have State funds reduced in proportionate percentage sums;
(13) increase textboolt allotment to assure that all pupils receive all necessary books; and
(14) put more vocational training in our high schools, expand the curricula and facilities of our area technical schools, provide for community colleges, and for more research facilities for higher education, as well as research in education itself.
These are the major steps which I am_proposing that we take immediately. There is a long range aspect of the bill which must be conaidered and -- it is the heart of what I am proposing to you.
It is the proposal to change the present 85/15 State/local fund ratio in the Minimum Foundation Program so that local school support shall be brought to a more logical level.
The new formula which this bill will set forth will increase the average statewide percentage of local support by one per cent per year beginning with the 1965-66 school year -- and continuing over a period of five years until the establishment of a new State-local ratio of 80/20 per cent.
In a State which constitutionally cannot conduct deficit financing, and in an age when united effort is required for economic success, it is not too much to ask that local governments put up one outt of every :ftlve dtllfl:~s spent on their systems for education.
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It was found that today we could use $150-million dollars, if it were available, to implement our program of improvement, but because I believe that this is not now realistic, but that a more modest beginning would be
I am proposing that $30-million dollars in new revenue be raised through action of this General Assembly during this ses.::d.on.
Translating this into concrete terms it would mean: (1) a salary increase averaging $200 per teacher based upon performance, experience and qualification immedia.tely effective January l; ( 2) a commensurate increase in the salaries ,:-.f college and university faculty members; (3) an immediate addition of 350 more teachers to be followed by the addition of 1,000 teachers next year; (4) a $75,000,000 increase, making a total of $100-million dollars, effective July 1, 1964, in the bond funds for schools and colleges to provide for construction of necessary facilities; (5) expansion of teacher in-service-training and additional support for the prospective teacher scholarship progra~; (6) creation of an honors program for outstanding junior students with superior talents; (7) an increase in textbook funds to provide essential textbooks for every student and proper library facilities; (8) completion of the State educational televison network; and (9) placing the State educational administration on the best possible administrative basis with the most modern equipment and records system, including data processing equipment, with the least possible administrative cost, and the greatest educational value possible per dollar spent. These objectives cannot be accomplished through local support alone. A substantial outlay of new State funds will be required. And it is the purpose of my administration to propose directly to you ways and means of raising these funds. In my judgment, this can best be d:me with revisions in existing revenue laws, revisions that will pose a burden to no citizen.
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The additional revenue will be used for the basic purpose of better ech1cation. We must improve our education programs in Georgia, and I know that you share this view.
We cannot carry out our contract with the people in full under the existing revenue structure.
We cannot carry out our pledges to the mothers and fathers, children and teachers of Georgia, and at the same time provide for other essential State needs when you write a new budget bill next year. Be not misled about our anticipated surplus. Much was budgeted last January: more is yet to be collected, and we cannot spend funds we do not have.
Now, the method which I am recommending for raising the necessary revenue consists of five principal points. These are:
First a 3-cent tax increase on cigarettes, with the removal of the 5 per cent mark-up, as well as making the tax deductible by the consumer. This is being offered with the knowledge of experience in other States, which has shown that the level of State cigarette tax rates in no way adversely affects the sale of tobacco by the grower. It is anticipated that $15-million dollars will be raised through this change in the law.
Second a net increase of SO-cents per gallon. on distilled spirits, brought about by discontinuing the State warehousing system, and adjusting the tax structure.
Third elimination of the vendors' commission on collection of retail State sales tax, providing an additional $5,500,000 dollars for public education.
Fourth a one per cent increase in the corporate income tax level, enabling the State to collect an additional $8-million dollars, yet keeping our corporate tax structure competitive with other States. Over half of this increase will be borne by the Federal Government in almost every instance.
Fifth the levying of 12-cents a case on beer, providing the education program with an additional $1,300,000 dollars each year.
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These measures are realistic and fair, and they will make possible

the improvements we so desperately need in education. They provide funds for

our State's future. The yield we receive tomorrow depends solely on the

investment we make today.

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To immediately implement the educational program, we will consider

and approve a supplemental appropriations act, which good business demands

that we keep well within anticipated revenues.

Further, I want to stress to you that the funds you appropriate

for our new education program will be carefully guarded and supervised by

me as your budget director, and will not be approved for expenditure unless

all efficiency ana economy measures feasible are effected in the State

Department of Education, and in other education agencies of the State.

Georgia will not pour money down the administrative drain of any

department on faith alone. We -- you as the Legislature, and I as the Chief

Executive -- demand a full accounting of practices and procedures and of how every quarter, every dime, and every nickle of public funds is spent.

This, my friends, is a program that you can run .QQ, not run from, when you

offer for re-election by the people.

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In the conduct of State business this Session, the Sanders Adminis-

tration will ask you to approve certain other bills designed for the public

betterment and well-being.

Foremost among these are .

a sheriffs' salary bill, to eliminate all our 159 sheriffs from the

evils of the fee system once and for all.

adoption of a Fair Elections Code, so that our people may vote as

they wish and for whom they wish, and with the full protection of the law~

passage of prison reform measures, designed to assure that rehabilitation, rather than punishment, is the primeG-.o.-4.'--- of our correctional insti-

tutions~

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implementation of an airport construction program;

an effective measure regulating billboaras on our highways;

aaoption of a new State Constitution. It is-my hope that such a

document can be submittea to you before the ena of this session. However,

if other business at hand does not permit sufficient time for deliberate

consiaeration, I will call a Special Session of the Legislature sometime later

in the year for the purpose of replacing this most important document of

organic law;

and, finally, the approval of a congressional redistricing plan which

is fair to every voter in every district and which will keep Georgia

responsibilities in the Georgia General Assembly, ana Georgia Congressmen

responsible to the people they represent, rather than the Feaeral Courts.

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It is no understatement to say today that we rendezvous with

responsibility, at a time when we must determine whether we are willing to

pay the price of continued progress.

I urge the members of this General Assembly to search your con-

sciences today, and to resolve with me that no hurdle will be too great for

us to clear in the realization of our purpose.

Realizing that the hour requires the best that we can give to our

State and to our children, we must cast out partisanship and lay aside personal

considerations, ~r any reservation which any of us might have and set

, out together to achieve, in this Session of the General Assembly, the legisla-

tive foundation upon which we can build the Georgia of tomorrow, of which

we all dream.

I accept the challenge of improvement willingly, eagerly.

I know that you, as men of thought and dedication, do the same.

With a common prayer that comes from the hearts of all of us, let

unison be our watchword. Let results mark our efforts.

Together we can assure our people and our State of their rightful

place in the sun.

Together we can succeed

for together we cannot fail. #
John c. Harper, Press Secretary, Executive Department, Room 201
Atlanta, Georgia, 30303, Phone: 521-1776 - 10 -