Lawmakers Set Schedule For Remainder Of Session

I just wanted to give everyone a quick update on the 2009 Session. There are 18 days left on the books (the Constitution allows for 40), and last week they adopted a schedule to accommodate the possibility of receiving stimulus money from Washington to help with the state's budget.

Lawmakers will meet Monday through Thursday until March 25, which will be the 35th day of session. Then they'll recess until June 22 when they will return to Atlanta to complete budget work. They have to pass a 'balanced' budget before the beginning of fiscal year 2010 (which has to be approved by the Governor).

There are planned cuts to all state agencies to help restore balance to the current budget which is estimated to be about a $2.5 million shortfall. Of particular interest to the forest community are the reductions facing the Georgia Forestry Commission. Like most other agencies, they faced a 14.5% reduction before the revenue collections were announced last week. Now GFC will probably be forced to make even deeper cuts.