The 2009 Legislative Session officially ended Friday, April 3rd at the stroke of midnight. In Georgia this is referred to as "Sine Die" which means adjourning "without a fixed day" for future meetings. You have probably heard or read the major news of the session: the failure to pass a plan to fund road and transportation projects. Legislators negotiated throughout the final hours but were unable to reach an agreement.

Legislators did manage, however, to agree on the state budget for FY10, which begins July 1, 2009. Major budget shortfalls meant lawmakers had to make difficult decisions to cut services or raise revenues. In the end, the General Assembly did not consider any options to raise state revenues and instead, legislators voted for over $1 billion in cuts and used $1.3 billion in federal stimulus dollars to balance the budget.

Given the difficult economic situation and possibility of service cuts, afterschool fared well in the FY10 budget. Legislators maintained the $14 million in federal TANF dollars for Afterschool Services, administered by the Department of Human Resources, to support afterschool programs for low-income youth. Child Care Subsidies, the other major afterschool funding stream in the state budget, received a hit through the reduction of $12 million in TANF funding (5% cut from the current year) to be spent for other human service needs. However, our advocacy efforts and those of our partners, paid off -- legislators included budget language directing $36 million in federal stimulus funds to be spent on filling this gap, as well as serving children on the statewide subsidies waiting list.

The FY10 budget now lies in the hands of the Governor. He has 40 days to sign or veto it. He also has the power to line-item veto the budget -- striking out specific appropriations with which he does not agree. GAIC will monitor the Governor's actions and keep you informed.