More state budget cuts coming, says Columbia County legislator

State agencies should start preparing themselves for $350 million more in state budget cuts, a Columbia County lawmaker said this morning.

State Rep. Ben Harbin, R-Evans, said during a pre-legislative breakfast meeting hosted by the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce that a shortfall in state revenues is forcing more cuts and no government agency likely will be spared.

“This is not a time for selfish attitudes,” Mr. Harbin said. “Nothing is a sacred cow.”

Already, Gov. Sonny Perdue has cut about $900 million from the budget.

“Some days I look at it (the budget) and shake my head with worry. I’m not going to lie,” said Mr. Harbin, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. “But I’m not too worried.”

However, Mr. Harbin said he believes the economy is improving. but expects it will be another year before Georgia feels the effects of the recovery.

In the meantime, he said lawmakers will try to protect education funding, won’t raise taxes and work inside a balanced budget.

Another issue that Mr. Harbin said likely will share center stage with the budget once the General Assembly reconvenes in January is water rights.

Earlier this year, a federal judge banned the state from drawing water from Lake Lanier, a primary source of water for Atlanta residents.

The two issues lawmakers must deal with, Mr. Harbin said, will be getting water to Atlanta residents and protecting the water rights of other communities.

“That is the issue that will drive two years of discussions,” he said, adding that he doesn’t expect to resolve the problems during the next legislative session.

Transportation issues also were discussed during the breakfast meeting by state Department of Transportation Commissioner Vance Smith.

Mr. Smith said he wants to prepare the state for a substantial uptick in Georgia’s freight hauling industry due to the widening of the Panama Canal. He believes work on the canal, to accommodate large oil ships, will conclude by 2014 or 2015.

The state needs to further develop ports on its Atlantic coastline, improve its rail system and make other infrastructure improvements to meet the needs of freight carriers.

To help fund those initiatives, Mr. Smith said DOT started a program called P3 – Public-Private Partnerships.

Though state lawmakers have discussed such transportation funding options as a penny sales tax and raising the gas tax, Mr. Smith said DOT wants to work with private industry to share funding for infrastructure improvements.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we put a man on the moon,” he said. “We can certainly solve the transportation issues in Georgia.”