Members of the local legislative delegation think there are many ways to cut the state budget to fill in a shortfall, including reducing employee salaries or withholding a grant intended to reduce residents’ property tax burden.

The state of Georgia is facing a $1.6 billion shortfall due to tax revenues not meeting predictions. In order to balance the budget - which is required by the state constitution - some officials have called for a special session of the legislature.

“No, I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Georgia Dist. Sen. John Douglas (R-Social Circle) said when asked if he believed there would be a special session. “I don’t think there’s any sentiment in the House or Senate to do that.” He said there have been several proposals to cut the budget. As part of one proposal, the departments of the state government have been asked to turn in three proposals - cuts of six, eight and 10 percent of their budgets.

“We’ll see what those numbers look like,” he said.

Another proposal is that the state government stop paying the Homeowner Tax Relief Grant, in which the state gives monies to the cities and counties to credit to their residents’ property tax bill by roughly $150 to $200 each. If the funds are withheld, the state could save $430 million. Douglas personally opposes this.

“We still have a number of pay raises in the budget - teachers and other state employees - that I think need to be discussed,” he said. “To get out of this and balance the budget again, we’re going to have to all tighten our belts equally and there might not be any pay raises available at this time.”

He said the most important thing to remember is that the state cannot tax itself out of its economic problems. Recessions are cured not by the government taking citizens’ money but allowing the citizens to spend it.

Douglas said citizens need not worry that budget will not be balanced. “We’re going to make it happen,” he said. “It’s just a question of how we’re going to make it happen.”

Georgia Rep. John Yates(R-Griffin) said the state constitution allows the governor and the leadership of the State House and Senate to make certain budgetary adjustments while the legislature is recessed. However, these adjustments can only go so far.

“It may take a special session because as I say, they only have the authority to go a certain distance,” he said.

He said that a special session would last roughly a week and some feel the taxpayers would be more inclined to tolerate the revocation of the Homeowner Tax Relief Grant if it were done by the convened legislature and not by a few leaders.

He said that on Wednesday, he met with Sen. Douglas and Pete Wheeler, the state’s commissioner for veteran’s affairs, to discuss saving money in this department.

“Meetings like this are going on all over the state,” he said. Some money-saving proposals include eliminating proposed raises or requiring employees to take a day off without pay once per month.

“I personally don’t think we’ll have one,” Georgia Rep. David Knight (R-Griffin) said when asked about whether he thought there would be a special session of the legislature.

“We’re just going to have to go across the board to see where we can cut spending in order to have a balanced budget,” he said.

He said he is sure the state will be able to cut spending without unduly affecting the services it provides for taxpayers. He emphasized that cuts to education will be limited.

Sen. Ronnie Chance (R-Tyrone) could not be reached for comment.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

“We were totally surprised by the number of people out to see us!”

Soldiers from Fort Benning stand with boys, girls and parents who came out to welcome them to Noah’s Ark and to thank them for their service.

Henry County and Locust Grove welcomed 54 wounded troops to our community on Thursday, August 7. The troops were from the Fort Benning Wounded Troop Battalion in Columbus and had made arrangements to deliver a truckload of toys, bedding, food, toiletries and other supplies to Noah’s Ark.

Other than the Henry County Police escorts from the county line, the troops did not know of the welcome arrangements, which included hundreds of citizens lining the streets and waving flags, the Henry County Fire Department displaying the American flag on one of its ladder trucks, Henry County Police, Locust Grove Police, the Chamber of Commerce (which assembled goodie bags for the troops), and Locust Grove and Bethlehem Elementary Schools (whose students made cards for the troops). State Senator John Douglas, State Representative John Lunsford, Mayor Lorene Lindsey, Henry County Com-mission Chairman Jason Harper and Commissioners Randy Stamey and Johnny Basler were present to welcome the troops.

According to Mary Bancroft, Media Specialist at Locust Grove Elementary School, “Apparently the soldiers did not expect such an enthusiastic outpouring of support. They stopped their bus and all who could walk, got off to shake hands with the crowd. They were very appreciative of the children’s support.”

Upon their arrival at Noah’s Ark, the soldiers were met by applause as more citizens of the county arrived to thank them for their service to our country.

After a brief welcome to the visiting wounded troops, State Senator John Douglas had the following to say, “I have never been more proud of the soldiers and the people of Henry County than I was today. The reception the soldiers received was like a July 4 parade. When we spoke to one young sergeant who walks with a cane, he had tears in his eyes because he was so moved by the reception they were given. I would like to say thank you to Henry County today for such a warm reception and thank you to the soldiers for what they do for our country.”

During a brief “meet and greet,” one soldier spoke up and, again, thanked all the civilians who had come out to meet them and to thank them for their service. “We were totally surprised by the number of people who came out to see us and it has blessed our hearts.” After that she asked the crowd to let the soldiers take some pictures of them to remind them of the support shown that day.

Noah’s Ark, located in Locust Grove, is a rehabilitation center for animals and also has a group home for children aged from birth to 18 years old. The wildlife from the rehabilitation center and the children from the Children’s Care Center play an important role for each other. They help to heal each other through their interaction.

The time spent in this special location was a healing time for many of the wounded soldiers, who felt the love and support of a community they did not know and also gave a public the chance to say thank you to our troops for giving part of themselves for our freedom.