Welfare Watch - October 08, 2010 - Why the Sky May Not Fall, Budget Numbers Up

Governor Perdue announced yesterday that net revenue collections for the month of September 2010 (FY11) were up by 5.7 percent compared to last year at this same time.  The percentage increase for FY11 compared to FY10 is 7.4 percent.  

This is good news for Georgia.  The economy is showing signs of improving.  In September individual incomes showed an increase by showing income taxes increasing 6.1 percent.  People are spending more as well.  Sales taxes were up 5.7 percent in September.  Fuel sales, tobacco and alcohol sales taxes were up.  The Governor's budget office announced that they were ahead of revenue projections for the fiscal year.

This welcomed news gives some relief to those Departments of the State that care for Georgia's neediest persons. Departments have already taken a 4% cut to their budgets for this year.  The Departments were asked in anticipation of next year's budget preparation process to suggest additional cuts of 6, 8 and 10 percents.  The 4% cut taken in September and the cuts made over the last two years have already been devastating to many programs that serve the most vulnerable Georgians. Hopefully, no further cuts will be requested from the departments that serve children and families in the State.

The sky may not fall just yet. 

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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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