State budget writers are back to square one after Governor Sonny Perdue adjusted projections for state revenues this week. Some say Perdue's initial assessment may have been too optimistic. Governor Perdue now wants state employee and teacher salary increases cut by half a percentage point. He is also suggesting reducing funds earmarked for school buses and technology.
The state House and Senate budget committees must now rewrite their proposals. Perdue says a slowing economy is to blame. But, House Speaker pro tem Mark Burkhalter says the state's 1.5 billion dollar rainy day fund should be tapped and that Perdue should support tax cuts this year. The Governor has said he will use the rainy day fund only if the economy keeps slipping.
The state House and Senate budget committees must now rewrite their proposals. Perdue says a slowing economy is to blame. But, House Speaker pro tem Mark Burkhalter says the state's 1.5 billion dollar rainy day fund should be tapped and that Perdue should support tax cuts this year. The Governor has said he will use the rainy day fund only if the economy keeps slipping.
