Georgia Legislature Slashes
School Library Funds
The Georgia legislature approved a fiscal 2003 budget April 10 that includes a $14-million cut in school library funding requested by Gov. Roy Barnes. Budget negotiators said the state will encourage school officials to apply for federal money for new books and materials to make up the difference, according to the April 11 Macon Telegraph. The funds amount to a change from the current $18 per student to $12.86.
Sen. Richard Marable (D-Rome) said that eight consecutive months of declines in state tax revenues led to the stringent budget, which also calls for cuts in all state agencies. He told the Telegraph that the cut was temporary and the money would be made up to school libraries after the economy rebounds.
However, the budget does include $2.25 million to help build new public libraries in Wheeler and Telfair counties. Gov. Barnes had vetoed the measure March 25 for fiscal 2002 because he had not received proof that the land had been acquired, the paper reported March 27. This led to a threatened veto override by Rep. Terry Coleman (D-Eastman), chair of the House Appropriations Committee, who claimed the libraries were ready and the governor had made a mistake. Coleman was persuaded to withdraw his motion, and the legislature restored the funding for 2003.
The budget was then sent to Gov. Barnes, who has the authority to veto individual line items.
Posted April 15, 2002.
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