Perdue emphasizes long-term preparation for Georgia

JIM DIFFLY

Governor Sonny Perdue speaks at the Biennial Institute for Georgia Legislators at the Georgia Center on Tuesday.

Gov. Sonny Perdue encouraged legislators to focus on long-term goals in light of state budget cuts at the 26th Biennial Institute for Georgia Legislators at the University Tuesday.

“We cannot place a short-term perceived popularity above principle,” Perdue said. “That long-term vision must guide how we handle present circumstances.”

With state revenue down 1.3 percent from last year, the University has faced a series of budget cuts. The 6 to 8 percent budget cuts recently incurred a $100 mandatory fee on students and a reduction in the University’s contributions to faculty and staff health plans.

Perdue said the budget reductions reflect his long-term strategy to preserve public services.

“We must prepare for what is coming,” Perdue said. “I have to deal with the reality of the budget estimates now.”

Perdue also discussed his Nov. 26 meeting with President-elect Barack Obama concerning the economy’s impact on state finances.

Perdue said he told Obama and other state governors that he believed Georgia could lead the nation in the path to recovery and he encouraged investment in long-term projects.

“We still see people wanting to come to Georgia,” he said. “As we work through this challenging time, we must govern with a focus on making policy decisions.”