When Gov. Sonny Perdue signed the new state budget Thursday, he rejected several earmarks for projects in the region.
Gone from the upcoming spending plan are funding for a Northwest Technical College campus in Catoosa County and the money to pay for $2 million in bonds that would have helped finance a rail line between Coosa and Lyerly.
Perdue also erased $4 million to build a terminal at the Paulding County Airport under construction.
Click here to see an archived story about local projects funded in the budget
Click here for the original list of earmarks.
Perdue 's justifications are detailed in the line-item remarks excerpted below:
Section 46, pertaining to the Department of Transportation, page 204, line 6982:
The General Assembly earmarked $5,200,000 in state general funds to the Airport Aid program for the Paulding County Regional Airport ($4,000,000), Cherokee County Airport Authority ($700,000), and the Glynn County Airport Commission ($500,000). State funding for airports is currently determined in accordance with statewide priorities for air transport and is awarded on a competitive basis. Local communities are encouraged to seek funding from Airport Aid at the Department of Transportation ($23 million available in FY09) and the AirGeorgia program at the OneGeorgia Authority ($15 million available in FY09). Therefore, I veto the appropriation of $5,200,000 contained in this proviso.
Section 45, pertaining to the Department of Technical and Adult Education, page 202, line 6914:
The General Assembly appropriated $250,000 in state general funds to the Technical Education program for the creation of a college and technical facility in Catoosa County at Bentley Place. This facility is not on the Department’s priority list for expansion. Due to the unspecified need associated with this project and other priorities within the Technical Education program, I veto the appropriation of $250,000 contained in this proviso.
Section 49, pertaining to the General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund, page 224, line 7405:
This language authorizes the appropriation of $657,580 in debt service to finance projects and facilities for the Department of Transportation, specifically for rail lines for Lyerly to Coosa, Nunez to Vidalia, Ardmore to Sylvania, St. Augustine Road Rail Switching Yard Expansion and McNatt Boulevard Extension rail crossing through the issuance of $7,700,000 in 20-year bonds. Financing for these rail projects should not be considered until processes for project selection have been reviewed and adequate justification is made for continued state investment. Due to limitations on additional debt contained in the state’s debt management plan and the reasons stated above, I veto this language (page 224, line 7405) in the provisions relative to Section 49 General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund and the state general funds of $657,580.
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