As someone once told me, when the Legislature is in session there ain't a man, woman or child safe in the state of Georgia. After last week's announcement of the proposed budget cuts, it seems especially true.
Yes, that scraping sound is the gnome setting up a soapbox, but people this is ridiculous. Can someone explain how our state economy will benefit by throwing thousands of people out of work, cutting state services that help so many hard-working taxpayers, and trashing the education possibilities that enable people to get better jobs and pay more taxes?
I am bias because of my Master Gardener status, but the proposed bone striking cuts to the Extension Offices and the alienation of 4-H programs leaves me sick.
The proposed closing of all 4-H programs _ programs that help 156,000 kids ages 9 to 19 learn and grow and became productive members of society _ will also throw 116 people out of work.
The proposal to close half the county Extension offices mean 169 people out of work and thousands of free help lost.
If that wasn't bad enough, the proposals will close the State Botanical Garden, the Georgia Mountain Research and Education Center, the Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens, the Irrigation Research Park, the Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center, and the Attapulgus Research Farm.
Again, from my bias position, just losing the Master Gardener program alone will hurt everyone who can benefit from the free services. In 2009, Master Gardeners in Georgia volunteered 217,010 hours, which is valued at $4.23 million in itself. There were 644 new volunteers trained, including me, nearly three-quarters of a million people directly assisted, more than 45,800 people helped with questions called into county offices, and the creation of 14,000 community projects and demonstrations.
Sid Mullis, our extension agent, points out a few more things:
The programs are funded in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, meaning federal and local funds will be eliminated.
For every dollar invested in these programs, $3 are returned. Every program, every county extension office generates revenue.
The Cooperative Extension is 7.6 percent of the total UGA budget, but it is expected to take 20 percent of the total UGA cuts.
Closing half the county offices also means the lost in grants like Radon education, childhood obesity and consumer services that help people, ironically, deal with lost of jobs and threats to home ownership, and how to grow and keep your own food to save on grocery bills and eat healthier.
Now I might not be the smartest gnome, but, as I said, this is nose cutting people. Below is a list of our elected state Legislatures. Please send emails and phone calls their way.
Sen. Bill Jackson, R-Appling: bill.jackson@senate.ga.gov; 404-656-5114 (he's on the senate appropriations committee)
Sen. J.B. Powell, D-Blythe: jb.powell@senate.ga.gov; 404-463-1314 (he's on the agriculture and consumers affairs committee)
Sen. Hardie Davis, D-Gracewood: hardie.davis@senate.ga.gov; 404-656-0340 (he's on the economic development committee)
Rep. Ben Harbin, R-Evans: ben.harbin@house.ga.gov; 404-463-2247 (appropriations committee chairman)
Rep. Quincy Murphy, D-Augusta: quincy.murphy@house.ga.gov; 404-656-0265 (he's on the appropriations committee)
Rep. Barbara Sims, R-Augusta: Barbara.sims@house.ga.gov; 404-656-0213 (she's on the appropriations committee)
Rep. Henry Wayne Howard, D-Augusta: wayne.howard@house.ga.gov; 404-656-6372
Rep. Gloria Frazier, D-Hephzibah: Gloria.frazier@house.ga.gov; 404-656-0265
Rep. Ernie Smith, D-Augusta: ma1027@aol.com; 404-656-6372
Rep. Lee Anderson, R-Grovetown: lee.anderson@house.ga.gov; 404-656-0298
