It has been nearly two weeks since Gov. Sonny Perdue vetoed the midyear budget passed by the state legislature, citing lack of funding for basic services and a controversial property tax cut championed by House Speaker Glenn Richardson.
On April 20, his office released a statement saying "he would make an announcement next week calling for a special session of the legislature to pass a balanced 2007 amended budget that meets the needs of Georgia's citizens."
But that week has come and gone, and Perdue has kept mum.
Meanwhile, schools that were counting on the midyear budget for money to ease overcrowding and pay nurses are digging into their rainy-day funds.
"Some are quite worried," says Department of Education Spokesman Dana Tofig. "They haven't hit crisis mode yet, but some are spending their own money—either surpluses or redirecting other funds. That's not ideal at all."
State leaders who say they want the special session to be as swift and painless as possible might be trying to get their ducks in a row before lawmakers return to the Capitol. That won't be a small feat, judging from the end of the regular session.
At that time, Richardson vowed the House would override Perdue's veto of the budget "again and again and again" in a special session. Richardson continues to insist on including a tax cut in the budget.
Tempers have cooled somewhat in the interim, but Richardson's spokeswoman, Clelia Davis, says the speaker has not met with Perdue.
"We're willing to work on it," said Davis. "We're willing to talk, but we have not heard from the governor's office."
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle says he has met separately with both men. "I wish you could take the politics out of the equation that we're in," he told reporters last week. "Unfortunately, that does not exist."
On April 20, his office released a statement saying "he would make an announcement next week calling for a special session of the legislature to pass a balanced 2007 amended budget that meets the needs of Georgia's citizens."
But that week has come and gone, and Perdue has kept mum.
Meanwhile, schools that were counting on the midyear budget for money to ease overcrowding and pay nurses are digging into their rainy-day funds.
"Some are quite worried," says Department of Education Spokesman Dana Tofig. "They haven't hit crisis mode yet, but some are spending their own money—either surpluses or redirecting other funds. That's not ideal at all."
State leaders who say they want the special session to be as swift and painless as possible might be trying to get their ducks in a row before lawmakers return to the Capitol. That won't be a small feat, judging from the end of the regular session.
At that time, Richardson vowed the House would override Perdue's veto of the budget "again and again and again" in a special session. Richardson continues to insist on including a tax cut in the budget.
Tempers have cooled somewhat in the interim, but Richardson's spokeswoman, Clelia Davis, says the speaker has not met with Perdue.
"We're willing to work on it," said Davis. "We're willing to talk, but we have not heard from the governor's office."
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle says he has met separately with both men. "I wish you could take the politics out of the equation that we're in," he told reporters last week. "Unfortunately, that does not exist."
