| We got down to business under the Gold Dome this week, as legislators from across the state convened on the Capitol for the annual budget hearings. In this process, members of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees meet to hear from the agency heads and others on their budgetary needs and concerns. Over the next several months as we look at the FY 08 budget proposals, we will focus on those things that are important to all Georgians - law enforcement, education and of course healthcare. Let's look at some key initiatives that were considered when the FY 08 budget was written.
Trauma Care
In 2006, a study committee met across the state to look closely at our trauma centers - or rather lack thereof. With more than nine million citizens, Georgia has only four level-one trauma centers - hospitals that can treat any emergency. Those trauma centers provide 24-hour, seven-day-a-week teams of trauma surgeons and other specialists capable of handling the most severe injuries within the "golden hour," that first hour after a traumatic injury, such as a car accident or a gunshot wound, occurs. This "golden hour" often means the difference between life and death or life-long disability.
It is expensive to fund these level-one and even level-two trauma centers, and the price tag to increase these centers by 15, to sufficiently care for those injured in this state, is going to be close to $85 million. The Governor recognizes the enormous toll that traffic accidents and trauma care exact on Georgia and its citizens. According to the Governor's office, traffic accidents not only cost billions of dollars each year, but also take the lives of more than 1,700 Georgians each year.
We have several ideas to fund the trauma centers. One idea is to increase fines on those who engage in reckless behavior - including those who disobey speed limit laws in this state, and those who drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol on our highways. Funding for any new trauma centers in our state is a challenge that we must face over the next several years.
Healthcare
Governor Perdue plans to continue to partner with the federal government on programs such as Medicaid and PeachCare - Georgia's healthcare system for children who otherwise would not have health insurance. His recommendations include $1.5 million to increase access to primary healthcare facilities through the state, $1 million to implement the Health Technology pilot program and nearly $5 million to develop a real-time information system to improve cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment. The goal is to make Georgia a national leader in cancer information technology.
Education
Members of the Appropriations Committee also were pleased to see that the Governor is building on his plan to keep all of Georgia's children in school. Last year, Gov. Perdue put money in the budget to hire graduation coaches in Georgia's high schools. In FY 08, he is adding $21.3 million for graduation coaches in each middle school. It is troubling to think that more than 42,000 of our children are not on track to graduate, and more than 2,000 students have dropped out of school before the ninth grade.
Law Enforcement
The Governor and the General Assembly are committed to keeping Georgians safe. The FY 08 budget includes more than $15 million for new prison beds and funds for new correctional facilities. We have added 15 new GBI Meth Force agents and more than $1 million for the Child Safety Initiative, an anti-online predator program, and another $1 million for Georgia Secure ID.
For 40 days we will write, study and debate legislation as we work to do the business of the people. One of our most important tasks is to approve the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Keep in mind that agency requests made to the General Assembly and the Governor's recommendations are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any or all of these funds will be appropriated to a particular agency or program. Each legislative session, we are mandated by the Georgia Constitution to pass a balanced budget that is of benefit to all Georgians, and we'll look to do this again in 2007. I believe that you will find that those you elected to political office take this job very seriously and we, like you, want to make Georgia the best place to live, work and raise a family.
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