As the economic downturn drags into its second year, UGA employees should expect budget issues to dominate the 2010 session of the Georgia General Assembly.
“Frankly, given the ongoing national and state economic situation, full funding of the University System funding formula and funding salary levels already in place is likely our best hope,” said Chris Cummiskey, UGA’s director of state government relations, noting that six days of furloughs have reduced those salary levels in the current fiscal year.
Through November, state revenue collections were more than 15 percent behind the same period a year ago. University officials will closely monitor the governor’s budget recommendations due to the General Assembly the first week of the session, which begins Jan. 11.
The regents’ budget proposal included a request for planning funds for a new South Campus Learning Center at UGA, but there are no UGA capital construction projects on this year’s list. Groundbreaking is scheduled Jan. 28 for the Special Collections Library approved for funding through a state bond issued by last year’s General Assembly.
Legislation on other university-related issues will bear monitoring, as well. A bill to restrict scientific embryonic stem cell research passed the Georgia Senate last year and awaits action by a House committee. Other legislation would reduce restrictions on bringing weapons on campus. Current law prohibits weapons on college campuses.
Other proposed legislation would remove management of campus construction projects from the regents, where it now resides, to the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission. That bill passed the House last session and awaits Senate action.
Legislation introduced last year to allow university faculty to transfer out of the Optional Retirement System to the Teachers Retirement System did not receive the required hearing and actuarial study over the summer and thus by law cannot be considered in the 2010 session.
