Welfare Watch - August 09, 2010 -  July's Revenue Numbers Up

Georgia certainly could use some good news on the budget front.  Our Congress has disappointed all Georgians by not approving the extension of the enhanced Medicaid match of $375 million.  Because of this and other shortfalls, the Governor has ordered the Office of Planning and Budget to withhold four percent of the state agency monthly allotments beginning in August.  Services to Georgia's most vulnerable citizens are already being impacted.

The good news is that the Governor announced today that net revenue collection for the month of July is up by 4.7%.  This is the second month in a row that revenues have improved. 

These increases will not be enough to make up for the fiscal shortfall in FY2010 that will have to be reflected in this year's FY2011 budget.  One of these is a projected shortfall in the State Health Benefit Plan of as much as $200 million.

If Georgia is to avoid additional budget cuts, which will be devastating to core services to Georgia's needy citizens, honest solutions will have to be explored.  The "no new taxes" mantra is just not realistic, if Georgia is to have viable services to its citizens.             

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Welfare Watch, an email newsletter of the
Georgia Association of Homes
and Services for Children
as a public service.
http://www.gahsc.org
                            Normer Adams, Editor
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The Georgia Conference on Children and Families