Perdue calls on teachers to take furloughs to fill $900 million hole
Public schools and Medicaid will face 3 percent cuts to their budgets, and teachers face the rare prospect of unpaid furloughs as state leaders move to fill a $900 million budget hole.
Gov. Sonny Perdue on Tuesday announced that he and top lawmakers have struck a deal that allows them to avoid a special legislative session and provides the governor flexibility to tackle the latest in a heartbreaking string of cuts.
Most agencies will face a 5 percent budget cut. Some will be higher; some lower, Perdue said. Every state employee, meanwhile, must take three furlough days before the end of the calendar year, he said.
These moves are anticipated to keep the state’s 2010 spending levels equal to fiscal 2009, which ended June 30 and featured more than $2.8 billion in cuts from the year before. The reductions announced Tuesday will bring Georgia to a budget level nearly equal to that of 2005.
But, as Perdue pointed out, an additional 1 million people live in the state today as compared to four years ago.
“We have to live in the reality of the moment,” Perdue said during a news conference from his Gold Dome office. “These steps are necessary and prudent to make sure we keep our commitment to Georgia taxpayers and allow us to give the most services to our citizens through the money we’re able to obtain.”
The decision to furlough teachers and cut K-12 budgets is likely to generate push back for Perdue and state leaders. Even Perdue said he is not sure he has the legal authority to order teachers to take unpaid leave. While teachers are technically state employees, they work under contracts with local districts.
Still, furloughing teachers provides a boost to the state shortfall: budget officials estimate that every day the state’s teachers are not paid saves $33 million.
Local districts were still absorbing the news Tuesday afternoon and were not sure how they would proceed.
“We’ll consider the best options for our district and our schools,” Susan Hale, communications director for Futon County School System, said. “We don’t have a solution yet.”
But Cherokee County Schools will begin furloughs next week, Superintendent Frank Petruzielo said.
“I’ve already sent something out to our principals telling them to get hold of the teachers they thought were going to be there on Monday and Tuesday and tell them they’ve got two more days off.”
Cherokee teachers will take two furlough days next week — when they’d normally be planning for the coming school year – and another day in November.
Petruzielo said Cherokee County will also lose $4.8 million in funding.
Perdue, perhaps sensing the delicate nature of the school cuts, had a conference call with local superintendents from around the state Tuesday to break the news and explain the seriousness of the situation.
“They’re all very appreciative of the heads up and are understanding of where we are,” Perdue said.
State Schools Superintendent Kathy Cox seconded that notion.
“It saddens me that our economic situation is so dire that further reductions to education funding must be made, but I appreciate that the governor and Legislature have done everything they can to cut education less than other areas,” Cox said in a statement.
Still, she said, implementing the cuts will be difficult.
“I will be working with local superintendents so we can minimize the impact these budget reductions will have on student achievement,” she said.
Meanwhile, other agencies must begin to scramble for deeper cuts. Only the Department of Mental Health will be held harmless as the agency operates under an agreement with the Justice Department to correct deficiencies in mental health hospitals.
Every other agency must assume a 5 percent cut but produce plans for dealing with a 4 percent, 6 percent or 8 percent cut.
Dealing with the crisis in this fashion, Perdue said, allows him and staff to be precise in their cuts and not make across the board decisions.
All of this is being done with the hope, but without certainty, that these cuts are the last.
“That’s not to say we won’t have to go deeper,” Perdue said. “This train is not going to go down forever, and predicting when it’s going to reach the bottom of the hill is not an exact science and it’s not a pretty art.”
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727 comments Add your comment
Surprise...
July 21st, 2009
5:37 pm
Our oh so loyal and education driven Governor calls on educators to take 3 days off.
Why don’t you lead by the example Governor and take 3 unpaid days so we can ALL feel the pain of the recession?
Vernell
July 21st, 2009
5:39 pm
I work at a state agency and I shouldn’t have to take any days off. They should make the rich high paid administrators take days off instead of the employees who do all the real work. Sometimes, I have to work past 5 PM at regular pay and not overtime. This is just another way that rich white power brokers like Sonny Perdue try to keep the minorities and other working class down in this state! I’m getting tired of this and may move back to New Jersey!
Dr. Phil
July 21st, 2009
5:40 pm
I doubt if Sonny or members of his crew, like Michael Adams, are suffering at all.
Thomas "Pain"
July 21st, 2009
5:41 pm
Cuts, cuts, cuts. I love it. When a business needs to audit their bottom line, they tend to make cuts, or they no longer survive. So our state government has to make cuts. It would be wonderful if only our Federal Imperial government could not print money and or tax to cover their rather colossal spending habits. But again…it’s the government…..
Braves Grrrl
July 21st, 2009
5:42 pm
When teachers take furloughs, who teaches our children?
ugaprof
July 21st, 2009
5:43 pm
Let’s make sure the furlough is really a furlough, and not just 3 days we are asked to work without pay. And that it includes the highest levels of the administration. If you furlough enough vice presidents, you might not have to furlough any minimum-wage janitors!
T
July 21st, 2009
5:44 pm
As a fellow State employee…I am sick of all the budget cuts and talk of furloughs….someone please tell me why a budget that just started july 1 is already short $900 million. If that is not a crock of crap!! Departments are suffering left and right and no one can say where the money that was supposed to be in the budget is. Thank you Sonny for having “Georgia on YOUR mind”!!!!
david
July 21st, 2009
5:45 pm
My opinion is that sonny,cagle,richardson and the rest of the zoo should just quit and put some real leaders in office,These goons have no idea on how to operate this state. IF you ask the a direct question,they will reply either we will raise taxes,cut jobs or we will get back with you after we do a paid study.The state and country is going to hell in a big hand basket!
Zane Smith's Teeth
July 21st, 2009
5:46 pm
Answer: Some babysitter sub. off the street
Furlough all the six figure admin jobs in the county office…furlough Purdue and his stafff…furlough the administrators… Why on earth would you furlough police, teachers, and firefighters before them????
Answer #2: No teachers’ union in Georgia
GSU
July 21st, 2009
5:48 pm
Fine, Vernell. Go back. Keep blaming whitey for holding you down. If you don’t like your job, quit. If you like it, stop complaining about it. Either way, stop blaming others for your situation (especially whites since this issue seems pretty colorblind) and do something about it yourself.
t
July 21st, 2009
5:48 pm
The governor doesn’t realize that strate employees are already getting furlough days. He doesn’t know how many thousands of state employees make less than $20K and won’t make the rent if they lose another three days pay.
Mike
July 21st, 2009
5:48 pm
What will those teachers do on their furlough days? Go Fish!!!
SMM
July 21st, 2009
5:49 pm
Leave it to some bright person to put it back on race: “This is just another way that rich white power brokers like Sonny Perdue try to keep the minorities and other working class down in this state!” There are plenty of “white” people affected by this furlough, too. I am glad to see that at least this time it’s being spread evenly across the whole state, and not just certain pay grades of certain agencies. That’s the way it should be, and the loss in pay commensurates with the salary because it is a percentage. No one should be exempt if it has to happen. But this should apply to legislators, oo. I’d like to see them working without pay. I’ve yet to see ANY of that. With the next gubernatorial election, anyone that is currently in office and has supported this nonsense (millions for fishing and wildlife museums, etc.), I’m voting them out!!
Thomas "Pain"
July 21st, 2009
5:49 pm
Hey Zane Smith’s Teeth- haha, great moniker-
Answer to No. 1- Because it’s the GOVERNMENT- they don’t earn, THEY CONFISCATE!!
Silentsoul
July 21st, 2009
5:49 pm
Here is all that Hope and Change people wanted. I sure am glad things are so much better now.
GOP Teacher
July 21st, 2009
5:50 pm
A furlough means my parking spot will be empty.
GSU
July 21st, 2009
5:52 pm
The money went away because this recession is worse than expected and state revenues are tied to highly flexible income streams (sales). Their lack of foresight isn’t a party problem but a stupidity problem. Dems in DC overestimated the resiliency of our economy and Repubs/Dems did it here in Georgia, too. Big whoop. To blame Perdue for poor work in incredibly theoretical economics work is absurd. Cuts have to be made. If I were Perdue, I’d give my salary back before cutting teachers anymore, though.
Oh, great
July 21st, 2009
5:53 pm
OK, so my district already furloughed us a (non-teaching) day – in addition to a pay cut…are Purdue’s furlough days on top of that???
OIFVet
July 21st, 2009
5:56 pm
I am a state/DoD employee and my Wife is a teacher.Taking unpaid leave of 3 days is ok with us. We understand that we are different then private sector jobs. We are not facing layoffs. We also dont live beyond our means.I have lived and worked in the real world before and have faced layoffs.
gtfanfrom1951
July 21st, 2009
5:56 pm
that would be breach of contract and both sides would have to agree
James
July 21st, 2009
5:57 pm
Instead of all the teacher’s work days during the school year, why not use these as the furlough days. It beats the alternative.
Union Time
July 21st, 2009
5:58 pm
Time for a teacher’s union. Find one of your yankee teacher friends and get them to tell you what unions do for teachers. Not looking for something on par with the auto union, but time to have something stick up for us.
Base
July 21st, 2009
5:59 pm
Why doesn’t Sorry Sonny and the Goofy Glenn legislature take the cut and furlough,.. where is their contribution.Our unemployment keeps growing and the Republs don’t know what to do. Throw them out.
Name One
July 21st, 2009
5:59 pm
How about everyone of Sonny’s staff, every department chief, and every legislator (and their staff) taking a 5% pay cut??!!
jcteach
July 21st, 2009
6:01 pm
So they will pay a substitute teacher to fill the classroom on those 3 days? What’s the savings difference? Minimal I suppose. Sonny needs a furlough for the rest of his term, as does Kathy Cox, Casey Cagle and the rest of the state’s leadership.
Overworked and underpaid
July 21st, 2009
6:01 pm
I agree with uga prof. But I’m going to take my days off and enjoy myself. It is what it is as they say. I saw this coming last March in an article in ajc. I got busy and started tightening the belt to pay down the charge cards. Surely teachers have heard about this during this past school year. VERNELL head on back up to New Jersey if you must. You won’t find it any better there. I’m tired of the minority crap. That has nothing to do with this.
Keith
July 21st, 2009
6:01 pm
The teachers will be furloughed on their in-service and pre-planning days when the kids aren’t there. Of course most teachers already work 10 to 15 days a year above and beyond what they get paid for because they have more to do than can be done in the days allotted.
Dondee
July 21st, 2009
6:01 pm
O Man…..had the wrong idea for the stimulus and states continue to hemorrhage. We need to start at the very top. He should have cut taxes instead of TARP and the other plans and perhaps the economy would have made some improvement.
As far as furloughing teachers, among other state employees, I hope we won’t be required to go to teacher work days and not get paid for our work.. It’s bad enough that we already plan and grade after hours, including evenings, weekends and summers (taking classes and planning for the upcoming year).
One question: As teachers are contracted employees, does that mean we will have to resign our contracts? Can the state do this, even though we signed our contracts in February? Just a thought.
jcteach
July 21st, 2009
6:03 pm
I changed my mind. Sonny, et al, need to work for free for the remainder of the calendar year so the state can save money.
LOLO
July 21st, 2009
6:04 pm
He’s saying, “Go Fish teachers!”
So now the burden is shifted to the counties because most teachers have already signed their contracts for the next school year which amounts to somewhere around 190 days. It wouldn’t be pretty if these contracts were broken.
Way to go Sonny Boy!
Also, it’s funny how during the “good economic times” that people were saying that there’s no way they’d teach because they don’t get paid enough. Now, everyone thinks teachers get paid too much. I’m not a teacher by the way.
Mark
July 21st, 2009
6:04 pm
AARRGHH. Instead of cutting frivolous state programs or services, our incompetent legislators cut into the heart of state employees. Just like other posters have said – why not make the highly-paid administrators take larger cuts or furloughs? A 10 percent hit off $110,000-200,000 doesn’t keep food off their table or gas from their tanks.
Emma
July 21st, 2009
6:07 pm
Personally, I’m happy to take 3 days off without pay if it saves my job. I’d also be happy to NOT get a “raise” (or step increase) this year, if it saves my job. I’d need some assurance that it WOULD save my job. I’d also need some assurance, as some others have said, that some of my higher paid “superiors” were actually earning their pay. But I’d much rather keep my job and get shorted a little money.
some sense
July 21st, 2009
6:07 pm
I am a public school teacher. I will spend my three furlough days at school, in the classroom.
Just A Teacher
July 21st, 2009
6:08 pm
To “Braves Grrrl”. As an educator, I am willing to do whatever it takes to keep a teacher employed. I will take a 3 day furlough. However, you are so correct in your question. Our children will not be getting an education on those days.
GA Teacher
July 21st, 2009
6:08 pm
Okay this makes SO much sense! (Note the sarcasm.) First, of all, we have to pay substitute teachers to fill in when teachers are not in the classroom. Secondly, with all the attention on test scores, do you really want teachers away from their students? I am flabbergasted here!
chiefdawg
July 21st, 2009
6:09 pm
I am sure that the teacher furlough days will come during teacher work days. It would make no sense to have to pay subs.
Tom Brown
July 21st, 2009
6:09 pm
Sonny Purdue is an idiot! It is really starting to show just how dumb he really is. I’m feel sorry for anyone associated with him. Better luck next time. TB
Nia
July 21st, 2009
6:12 pm
To be honest it was the teachers that voted for Sonny, and the ones that insist on having that confederate flag, so you get what you vote for, so enjoy them furlough days!!!!! So glad to be a Nurse, and we need more so maybe the days you are off work enroll back in school!!!
Tom Brown
July 21st, 2009
6:14 pm
Emma,
Wrong way to handle these guys! Do you really feel good about the work you do? Is it worth less than the work I do? Are you on Sonny’s staff? Please act informed and give your own money away (not anyone elses) and please don’t write anymore just in case someone reads this.
LANCE
July 21st, 2009
6:15 pm
IF THE STATE WOULD STOP REHIRING RETIREREES AS CONSULTANTS AND PAYING THEM THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR ALONG WITH THEIR PENSIONS THAT COULD SAVE THE STATE A LEAST A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR ALONE . LET’S STOP ALL OF THE DOUBLE DIPPING , BY THIS I MEAN PAYING OUT PENSIONS AND THEN REHIRING PEOLE AS CONSULTANTS WHO ARE DOING MINIMUM TASKS .
Tonya
July 21st, 2009
6:15 pm
Get a grip!!! It’s happening nationwide. Teachers in Florida are being laid off left and right. Be grateful that you have a job.
marshal
July 21st, 2009
6:15 pm
Teachers are over paid and should have more students in classrooms, be more responsive to parents and boards of education should be made up of volunteers not paid salaries. Lots more to cut.
Keep cutting Gov, and state employees????? Way over paid with little productivity.
Cat
July 21st, 2009
6:15 pm
Georgia families can use tax dollar money for their private school tuition. That should be stopped, then there would be enough so our teachers and children are not put in this position. Read about HB 1113.
Courtney
July 21st, 2009
6:16 pm
I hate Sonny Perdue.
Overworked and underpaid
July 21st, 2009
6:17 pm
SOME SENSE: That makes “some sense” if you haven’t been working in your classroom all summer like many of us teachers do. Working a day or two for free on my own time in the summer makes it seem less like I’m doing it for free. If you have been working on school work during the summer, I’d like to suggest you “chill” some while you can. Take yourself a little “mental health break”. You’re going to need it this year. Time for us to think about ourselves a little more. The highly paid administrators, governor and DOE folks do.
Oh, great
July 21st, 2009
6:17 pm
I’m sure they’re going to furlough us on non-teaching days – the day my county cut was a non-teaching day. “Some sense” – please don’t play the martyr – you make it more difficult for the rest of us to gain and keep respect – we’re already public whipping boys; you don’t need to lie down and let them kick you, too.
To all – it didn’t save every job in my district – teachers on limited contracts were let go. Lots of teachers had to be reassigned (better than losing a job, but stressful nonetheless).
While I agree about the belt tightening (and I’m all too familiar with it as my spouse’s job was lost, too), we really have to think about the negative impact this is going to have on the students. Class size has been raised. Bus routes have been altered. Budgets for supplies have been cut. Now teachers are going to have unpaid time off, and the kids will pay the price.
marshal
July 21st, 2009
6:18 pm
Getting even worse in future years as Obama’s “change” attacks capitlaism with punitive taxes on businesses. Jobs are too much hassle when you can hire family.
All the “Change” people can move on to a different country or enjoy the unemployment line for a change. Jobs won’t reappear until Republicans and the Constitution are recognized again
Disheartened
July 21st, 2009
6:18 pm
Just some points here: Sonny Perdue is not the education advocate he sold himself as. Kathy Cox has never been an advocate for teachers, she’s just the governor’s “yes girl.” Next point, furlough days would probably mean that teachers would not get paid for days allotted as pre-planning or teacher work days, whatever the county BOE decides to do. Students would not lose instructional time. And finally, teachers in this state need a REAL union, not PAGE or NEA or county organizations.
you'd be surprised
July 21st, 2009
6:19 pm
Actually, there’s a substantial savings between teachers’ daily rate of pay and what systems pay subs. Certainly, more money could be saved by actually cutting school by three days because you’d save transportation and energy costs, but they could still save money by paying subs vs. teachers.
You have to remember that teachers are paid based on 190 day years, so even though the yearly salary isn’t impressing the daily rates usually are.
But, teachers have to do planning for the subs to use the instructional time effectively. It’s going to seem harsh to tell teachers, we’re cutting your salary by three days but we still expect you to do the planning work for those days.
marshal
July 21st, 2009
6:19 pm
Speaking of a teachers union… how more socialistic can you get. Commmies should be responsive to parents. Parents should have vouchers to enroll their kids in good schools only.
marshal
July 21st, 2009
6:20 pm
Pay subs create more employment and all need to tighten their belts as Obama destroys capitalism.
teachingforfree
July 21st, 2009
6:20 pm
AYP just got a little harder! Let me guess the answer, do more with less! How about charging the UGA atheletics department fees since they live off the UGA name. 25% of revenues per year sounds about fair since they get most of Athens given to them free of charge every other weekend in the fall. That should cover most of the teachers’ missing pay.
Cobb Teachers are #1
July 21st, 2009
6:21 pm
I know everyone is feeling the pinch of this economy, and the school system that I work for led in an effort to save jobs. Cobb Co. teachers took a 2% pay cut and 1 furlough day. I wonder if Sonny is still planning on giving teachers 100.00 dollars for their classrooms. Yes the thought is nice, but saving jobs is better. If I have additional days off, I don’t mind. I am just thankful for having a job!
boo hoo
July 21st, 2009
6:22 pm
Oh please, teachers suck it up and just do it. Almost every industry has taken cuts much more severe than a FEW unpaid days. The way I see it my taxes are just paying for you to have extra time off. I would much rather see you taking days unpaid than our first responders. Get real with what’s going on and be thankful you still have a job, retirement, etc…..no one feels sorry for you.
Quint
July 21st, 2009
6:23 pm
As a teacher, I would much rather take three furlough days, spread over nine months, than have a salary reduction that affects me for 12 paychecks. They just better not take away my sick leave credit.
Quint
July 21st, 2009
6:26 pm
Cobb Teachers, the Sonny Money has been cut for this year.
Unionist
July 21st, 2009
6:26 pm
A powerful teachers union is the answer. With a real union, this wouldn’t happen—the school couldn’t force any teacher to take any days off! We need to organize big time after this slap in the face and get all the teachers in the union to prevent this from ever happening again. Unions are the only answer employees have to protect their rights against the state!
conservative help
July 21st, 2009
6:26 pm
How about elimination of all of these expensive tests this year? That would save a lot of money. I wish someone would investigate who is getting all of that publishing money for all of the tests students must take. It would also add to education and teachers could teach students rather than teaching tests.
Chris
July 21st, 2009
6:27 pm
Where is the $1B in Federal recovery money that was awarded on May 11th? http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/05/05112009b.html. Is Perdue taking a furlough as well?
teachingforfree
July 21st, 2009
6:28 pm
Sonny money bought you an election several years ago. Wish you had those dollars back now? You don’t need to bring back legislators for a special session and make them work for free when you can just make up policy as you go.
whodean
July 21st, 2009
6:30 pm
We are in the middle of a terrible recession people, quit bitching about reduced pay and be lucky you have a job at all!
Pissed Off
July 21st, 2009
6:31 pm
What is going on? My school district has already took $1000 from all teachers and now 3 days. That’s a double whammy! Sonny Perduesupporters that are state employees/ teachers should really feel stupid for electing this idiot! Sonny Perdue was an avid supporter of Georgia Department of Natural Resources “Go Fish” campaign and has devoted millions to this cause but he wants to cut expenditures where it matters most-teachers that educate and state employees that cater to the public. Some kind of top notch decision maker we have in charge!
Norma Rae
July 21st, 2009
6:35 pm
I know a lot of folks don’t like the idea of teacher unions or any kind of union, but unfortunately there are times when they are needed to that the “little people” (us!) don’t get take advantage of. Maybe if Sonny and Company would take a pay cut and unpaid furloughs people wouldn’t be so bitter.
Oh, great
July 21st, 2009
6:35 pm
To Cobb Teacher – no, there is no “Sonny Money” this year.
Quint – our county is doing both, furlough days AND pay cuts – and this was prior to Sonny’s little deal.
boo hoo – your taxes dollars don’t pay for my time off – no one’s does – our time off is UNPAID!!!! Yup, all those marvelous summer weeks – all that lovely time at the holidays – ALL UNPAID! We are paid PER Diem for 190 days, plus or minus, and it’s divvied up as the district sees fit.
You’re a perfect example of the ‘teachers as whipping boy” comment I made earlier – you think because you pay taxes that you not only “own” teachers” but that we don’t have the right to be upset about things like this. Well, last time I checked, I pay taxes, too. And if I were working for a company in the so-called real world, and I was told that I had to have a pay cut, I would be upset at the loss of money, but overall happy to have a job – just like most of the teacher comments I’ve read on here. I don’t need anyone to feel sorry for me, but I would appreciate informed discussions, and not pablum from folks who still clearly have issues over their school year experiences.
Cobb Teachers are #1
July 21st, 2009
6:37 pm
People, I know that this is a blog, but instead of pointing fingers we need to call our elected officials and tell them that we need to cut out the PORK. I voted for Obama, and he has a lot on his plate. I can remember when President Clinton ran into the G.O.P wall headed by Newt, that’s when spending stopped and America started saving. We need a Democratic Prez, and a Republican Congress!
Dawg34
July 21st, 2009
6:38 pm
Take your black butt back to New Jersey Vernell and open up a job for somebody here who won’t complain. I’ve been through 3 company closings in the last 8 years and I’m not black. Imagine that, a white person being held down. I guess I should blame the blacks who have their say in the state legislature for me having to go through a year of unemployment (which I didn’t seek benefits for even though I qualified and could have used it). Instead of complaining and blaming others, I cut back and made do until I found employment again. Sometimes we have to step up to the plate and realize that things can always be worse.
More to Come!
July 21st, 2009
6:39 pm
When state employees start whining just keep in mind that is why they are Government Employees. In every business sector in the Country we have seen cutbacks, layoffs, furloughs and closings. To all those who think the Government Tax Payers owe you something..Think again. The next time one of you liberal bleeding hearts says any of the following statements you need to remember this is why we are in this environment:
I want Government Healthcare so I do not have to pay for any longer.
I don’t mind the illegals here because they do jobs Americans will not do.
I will vote for that millage increase so the schools have more.
Taxing the Rich is fine with me, I do not make enough money.
I am going to apply for one of those no money down home loans.
Oh that credit card has such a low interest rate and a high charge balance.
I want to buy that foreign car..it is made better.
I shop at Walmart because it so cheap( and everything is made outside the U.S.)
I am waiting on my check.
These are many of the things that got us into this trouble we are in. And if you dimwits think it is going to get better under the DEMOCRATS Control in D.C. you are so sadly mistaken. Government does very very little but take what you have and dispense it to those who WILL NOT do for themselves. Government is not the answer and the less we have involved in our lives the better off we are.
Where in our Constitution say we are entitled to Healthcare, Free Food, Nice homes paid by others, a car, a cell phone, a 65 inch Plasma T.V., rims for your car, using the hospital as your primary physician.
Those folks who vote for these laws are scamming you and it is time to wake up and take back your government. I can grow my own food, raise my own cattle, barter for services needed and teach my kids at home, and practically anything else, including protecting my property. Police, fire, Judges, roads, and the basics are all I need to make my life safe. Many ( i said Many..not all) are just government created add on programs to get votes from you. Lower our taxes and take the burden off our shoulders and you will see our country rise again.
Elsie
July 21st, 2009
6:42 pm
Honestly, as a resident of the great city of Atlanta and the cost of having to send my kids to a private school…..do us all a favor and take the remainder of the year off. The education they seem to be getting amounts to babysitting. Thanks Sonny….just make it longer than 3 days.
Steve
July 21st, 2009
6:42 pm
Can the state of Georgia endure the remaining days of Sonny Perdue and his Bush-like Republican cronies? What a horrible job and there is still time for more ineptness.
Mark2009
July 21st, 2009
6:43 pm
If you’re a state employee you shouldn’t complain one bit. You should be happy you have a job in this state and not in places like California. So stop complaining or get a real job in the private sector!!!!
Chuck
July 21st, 2009
6:43 pm
Why don’t we increase the state sails tax so that the illegal immigrants pay for some of the decrease in revenue. They pay no state income tax. Or just get rid of them. We teachers are not getting a raise this year and have not complained about it. Fulton County has not adopted new books in two years. The covers are falling off. We were told that students would not get social studies books for another two or three years. The books will be nothing but scraps by then. Fulton County doesn’t have the money to buy new books but they spend 100s of thousands to people in the administration office who do nothing but socialize. What a joke. Change we can believe in. Not
cody
July 21st, 2009
6:44 pm
Perdue should take a salary cut. He’s about 85K over paid anyway.
The representatives and senators also need a pay cut. They too are overpaid.
After you cut some of the above glut out, this would eliminate the teacher furlough situation as well as reduce, if not eliminate, the other state layoffs.
wrestleguy
July 21st, 2009
6:45 pm
Sorry Sunny, but enjoy your little time in office left. Teachers make up the largest voting occupational group. Just ask Barnes.
Dr. K
July 21st, 2009
6:46 pm
If we all have a signed contract with number of days, a per diem amount and an annual salary, how can he do it? He is basically telling the county BOEs that they will need to make up the budget shortage because all he can do is withold that money from the state. A signed contract that I renew annually is a legally bindinbg contractural agreement. A judge will need to decide this. This would be breach of contract!
Hartan
July 21st, 2009
6:47 pm
I just think that the timing is horrid. Why now? Why, when all options of moving to a different state, or even a private school aren’t options? Sonny Perdue, I wish that I had never voted for you. I’m going Democrat just to keep goons like you out of office.
I agree that we need to unionize. I agree that the martyr who will be in her classroom needs to take a dose of reality. We are the whipping boys, and will continue to be until we demand better salaries, better conditions and better respect.
Dr. K
July 21st, 2009
6:47 pm
PS…keep you dang Sonny money! I seond over $2,000 of my own money every year on my classroom anyway! I don’t need your $250 gift card…or maybe we aren’t getting them this year???
Enough is Enough!!!
July 21st, 2009
6:48 pm
I too work for a state agency (DFCS) and is it any wonder that a six year old boy, who had numerous complaints reported by his teachers, was beaten to death by the mother’s boyfriend! This is what happens when the case workers are spread so thin and you don’t have enough people to do the job that they were hired to do! Children will continue to be underserved and harmed in this state as long as we don’t provide the proper supervision for them!
A Teacher
July 21st, 2009
6:48 pm
What will teachers do on their furlough days?
Go golfing!
gapeach
July 21st, 2009
6:48 pm
Just to clear up a point: Teachers would not be taking furlough days on days when students would actually be at school, so no substitute teachers would be needed. The days would be taken from the teacher work days when students already have the day off. If this helps, I’m willing to give up 3 days of pay; it certainly beats the alternative of having no job at all. In addition though, I’d hope that leadership would lead by example and take a few furlough days themselves.
Steve
July 21st, 2009
6:49 pm
Unionist…please, your economics make me laugh a bit…unions, by their definition, are there to limit membership and raise the pay/benefits of those in the union. That’s all fine and good, but it doesn’t mean that they can continue to operate that way when basic economics don’t support them (you have heard of the United Auto Workers and the US automobile industry, haven’t you)? It’s been in all the papers.
I think moste people tend to think that government workers are the last to feel the ‘reality’ of our current economic situation. Good luck getting much sympathy from those already unemployed by companies that are much quicker to pull the trigger.
gapeach
July 21st, 2009
6:49 pm
…..by leadership, I mean the people who made the decision to have furlough days
Billy Bob
July 21st, 2009
6:51 pm
What about all the money spent at Tift College for the DOC??!!
cynthia
July 21st, 2009
6:52 pm
Review administrator salaries for the Board of Regents and I think you’ll find salaries decent salaries; I’m sure Chancellor Erroll is really going to be hurting. All agency salaries can be found at http://www.open.georgia.gov/index.html
SALARY TRAVEL EXPENSES
DAVIS,ERROLL B CHANCELLOR $ 558,378.13 TRAVEL $ 15,604.31
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
HERBST,SUSAN VICE CHANCELLOR $ 321,766.72 $ 6,956.07
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
WATTS,ROBERT E VICE CHANCELLOR $ 219,300.00 $ 4,249.80
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
MAIER,THOMAS LEE VICE CHANCELLOR $ 190,000.08 $ 17,130.57
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
KETTLEWELL-HENRY,JANET VICE CHANCELLOR $ 183,891.73 $ 5,221.04
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
DANIEL,THOMAS E VICE CHANCELLOR $ 178,358.52 $ 3,451.74
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
DANIELS,LINDA M VICE CHANCELLOR $ 168,019.12 $ 3,367.24
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
RAMACHANDRAN,USHA CHIEF $ 167,946.14 $ 3,073.85
BUSINESS/FINANCE/ADMI
NISTRATIVE
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
STONE,SANDRA S VICE CHANCELLOR $ 162,400.08 $ 13,610.91
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
PAGE,DEBBIE L DIRECTOR, $ 160,358.28 $ 1,436.81
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT
AD
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
BIESINGER,KRIS A ASSOC/ASST VICE $ 147,943.14 $ 13,217.03
CHANCELLOR
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
HUDSON,CATHIE MAYES VICE CHANCELLOR $ 143,126.99 $ 5,270.96
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
STARK,RONALD B ASSOC/ASST VICE $ 142,100.16 $ 5,226.56
CHANCELLOR
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
HICKEY,PETER J ASSOC/ASST VICE $ 139,337.69 $ 6,972.33
CHANCELLOR
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
NEWSOME,JAMES BURNS VICE CHANCELLOR $ 138,619.48 $ 598.71
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
HULME,GALE D DIRECTOR, $ 131,950.08 $ 1,453.35
SUBDIVISION/UNIT AD
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
VEATCH,JULIAN LAMAR ASSOC/ASST VICE $ 130,080.48 $ 6,191.32
CHANCELLOR
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
NICKEL,SHELLEY C ASSOC/ASST VICE $ 129,062.43 $ 1,972.94
CHANCELLOR
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
MILLSAPS,JOHN H ASSOC/ASST VICE $ 127,871.64 $ 2,403.31
CHANCELLOR
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
NORWOOD,BEVERLY C DIRECTOR, $ 125,643.60 $ 1,490.46
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT
AD
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
LAM,TONYA R ASSOC/ASST VICE $ 125,428.61 $ 10,810.30
CHANCELLOR
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
SCOVILLE,JOHN T DIRECTOR, $ 124,647.00 $ 4,211.55
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT
AD
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
WILLIAMSON,VIKKI L DIRECTOR, $ 120,295.05 $ 4,201.06
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT
AD
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
SOMERS,JESSICA A DIRECTOR, $ 113,679.00 $ 1,927.97
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT
AD
7/
cynthia
July 21st, 2009
6:55 pm
Pays well to work at the ports authority; check out the travel expenses.
MARCHAND,DOUGLAS J EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR $389,235.98 $54,630.58 PORTS AUTHORITY, GEORGIA 2008
FOLTZ,CURTIS J CHIEF OPERATING OFFI $314,832.82 $71,006.92 PORTS AUTHORITY, GEORGIA 2008
RONDAN,ARTHUR REG DIR EURDPE/MED/M $255,882.20 $68,470.44 PORTS AUTHORITY, GEORGIA 2008
SCHALLER,DAVID A CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE $244,184.65 $35,908.85 PORTS AUTHORITY, GEORGIA 2008
ROBERTS,ELLEN H DIRECTOR OF FINANCE $201,842.32 $2,576.05 PORTS AUTHORITY, GEORGIA 2008
WHEELER,JOHN M DIRECTOR OF TRADE DE $184,257.17 $66,410.01 PORTS AUTHORITY, GEORGIA 2008
TILLOTSON,HERMAN W DIRECTOR ENGINEERING $171,782.01 $13,429.05 PORTS AUTHORITY, GEORGIA 2008
ARMSTRONG,THOMAS H DIR OF STRATEGIC DEV $170,762.42 $34,985.69 PORTS AUTHORITY, GEORGIA 2008
TRENT,JOHN D DIRECTOR OF OPERATIO $166,638.98 $4,621.38 PORTS AUTHORITY, GEORGIA 2008
MORRIS,ROBERT C DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL $150,741.53 $22,637.60 PORTS AUTHORITY, GEORGIA 2008
JAKUBSEN,WILLIAM J SALES MANAGER TRADE $146,801.38 $18,447.61 PORTS AUTHORITY, GEORGIA 2008
ROHDE,DANIEL E ASST DIRECTOR OPERAT $144,642.26 $1,823.15 PORTS AUTHORITY, GEORGIA 2008
VINSON,WILLIAM O MANAGER OF AUDITING $137,040.08 $119.84 PORTS AUTHORITY, GEORGIA 2008
COX,RICHARD K GENERAL MGR OF EQUIP $136,439.54 $42,793.22 PORTS AUTHORITY, GEORGIA 2008
TROUGHTON,MARK D GLOBAL ACCT. EXECUTI $133,673.86 $23,665.55 PORTS AUTHORITY, GEORGIA 2008
MARSHALL,LISE HUMAN RESOURCES DIRE $133,498.61 $3,050.38 PORTS AUTHORITY, GEORGIA 2008
PETRINO,JOHN F GENERAL MANAGER TRAD $132,490.79 $79,432.55 PORTS AUTHORITY, GEORGIA 2008
Corrections employee
July 21st, 2009
6:55 pm
Finally the teachers will have a taste of what ALL state employee’s have gone through for a long time. School bus drivers get to drive their buses home, how much money could the state (or county) save if they didn’t pay for that fuel, let the bus drivers drive their vehicles to pick up their buses. State employee’s haven’t had a raise in a long time, some of them might get a raise since the minimum wage is going up.
Vernell, Oh My!!
July 21st, 2009
6:55 pm
Oh Vernell, you had to work past 5pm at regular pay!! You deserve some kind of medal, you are such a hard worker. I immediately want to hire you as my employee. You should run for President with that hard work ethic. Cheers to you, you hard worker.
Cobb Teachers are #1
July 21st, 2009
6:56 pm
Wow, I can’t believe some of the things being said. I can’t believe so many people are blaming Obama for the problems that have happened on Bush’s watch. People we did not step into this mess in six months, It took 8 years and the republican prez and congress started this spending spree. (Two wars, tax cuts for the wealthy, refund checks) Yes, we are in a mess! No Obama can’t do it by himself…. but don’t let the media fool you! Go out and spend your money! The more you spend, the better and faster our ecomony will recover!
Perdue calls on teachers to take furloughs to fill $900 million … | Calling Cards Live
July 21st, 2009
6:56 pm
[...] More here: Perdue calls on teachers to take furloughs to fill $900 million … [...]
IrishForEver
July 21st, 2009
6:56 pm
I love how the republican posters on here jump in to try and blame Obama when we are in this situation because of the past 8 years.
Billy Bob
July 21st, 2009
6:57 pm
Vote out all incumbants in the next election!!!Period!!
Georgia on my mind...
July 21st, 2009
6:58 pm
Wow. All of you who are complaining about the government teat–yes the nipple part of the breast you are sucking on, QUIT! Come on over to a private secter job. Lets see how you fare. The comments I’m reading scare me. So many of you rely on the government because of the stupid life decisions you made. I own my own business. When I need more cash, I work more. When the economy sucks and there are budget shortfalls, I cut back.
And screw you Billy Bob. Go back inside your trailor. I bet you have relatives who are inmates. Having the DOC in Forsyth is a brilliant move. How much do you pay in state taxes anyway?
More to Come!
July 21st, 2009
6:58 pm
TO STEVE….
You are so right….the unions have killed the automobile industry and now we will see how the unions will kill the Healthcare System if Obama’s Nationalization healthcare program goes into effect.
Go to any European Union Country and see the environment they have created. I would rather have Tony Soprano shake me down than turn our country over to a UNION THUG.
cynthia
July 21st, 2009
6:59 pm
Look at what there own folks at the Teachers Retirement System are making. If I was a teacher, I would be pi#$%d.
CARY,CHARLES W CHIEF INVESTMENT OFF $427,480.08 $2,668.55 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
BOEDY,NANCIE H CO-CHIEF INVESTMENT $427,480.08 $2,989.79 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
MAJURE,MICHAEL K DIRECTOR OF EQUITIES $335,733.34 $1,481.43 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
HORKAN,THOMAS A DIRECTOR OF EQUITIES $335,733.34 $4,718.60 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
HAROZ,DONALD P SR. EQUITY PORTFOLIO $255,020.64 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
WOLFERSBERGER,MATTHEW DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH $245,500.01 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
MATTKE,MARK SENIOR INVESTMENT AN $244,164.12 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
SHIPP,CLANTON C SENIOR INVESTMENT AN $235,740.01 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
LEONG,KAR M SENIOR INVESTMENT AN $225,533.26 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
CHRISMAN,KATHLEEN C SENIOR INVESTMENT AN $224,367.38 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
BUSCH,JO KAREN DIR OF INVESTMENT SV $221,166.66 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
PHILLIPS,BRENT D CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFF $208,000.08 $1,771.89 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
KLINGLER,GIZELLE SENIOR INVESTMENT AN $190,786.76 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
BERK,JEREMY SENIOR INVESTMENT AN $189,800.08 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
QUARELLO,SHERRY A CHIEF EQUITY TRADER $188,750.12 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
WIEDEMANN,SPENCER B SENIOR INVESTMENT AN $185,387.26 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
GIVENS,JOHN R SENIOR INVESTMENT AN $174,240.08 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
EZELL,JEFFREY L EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR $173,903.16 $5,995.99 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
POWELL,SABRINA L INVESTMENT ACCT $169,166.64 $515.62 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
KINSEY,SHIRLEY R SENIOR INVESTMENT AN $165,916.76 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
Quint
July 21st, 2009
7:01 pm
While we are on here, does anyone want to compare local supplements? I live in a rural community and the local teaching supplement is only $600. Now before some starts in on the cost of living in rural vs. suburban or urban areas, the cost of a gallon of milk is $4.50 and gas is at $2.25. A decent one bedroom apartment rents for $550 per month and a $.99 value meal item is still $.99 everywhere else in Georgia.
I know many teachers in and around the metro area make much more than that as a local supplement. Are they being cut out in lieu of “salary” reductions?
Again, I am thankful for my job and I am willing to tighten my belt just like everyone else. Just remember that and give us our fair share when the economy turns around.
More to Come!
July 21st, 2009
7:02 pm
What is Yellow, with eight legs and can be found under a tree?
A GDOT Maintenance Crew Truck.
Albert
July 21st, 2009
7:02 pm
Fools, there will be no substitutes, no buses will run, no air conditioners will run in schools, no lunches will be served. Schools will be closed for 3 days. Our system is cutting 2 early release days and 1 planning day.
NO SUBSTITUTES
BTW I am a teacher and am glad to have a job. Maybe the state should make no cuts and become insolvent like California.
Put Away Your Crooked Speech
July 21st, 2009
7:04 pm
Why are all you people complaining? This is what you get when you put Republicans in charge. The lesson here is don’t hire people who don’t believe in government to run government.
We need change, not just in Washington, but in Georgia too. That includes you folk down in the southern part of the state who are a drag economically and culturally on the rest of the state. I know that’s harsh but it needs to be said.
We can no longer afford politicians that don’t believe in public education. We cannot go back to the 20th Century where most people were illiterate and only a few wannabe aristocrats ran the state for their benefit.
This is a mess made by Republicans and it is high time to take responsibility for the mess. No blaming a President who has been in office for 6 months and wants to help. This is your mess and it’s time to replace you.
I hope all of you people who are facing these cuts and who have lost your jobs face the reality that tax cuts for the wealthy and businesses do not lead to jobs and prosperity for all.
Time to put away our childish behaviors. No more distractions like homosexuals, abortion, creationism, etc… Time to put some actual competent people to fix this mess we’ve been trying it the conservative way, and it has been a smashing failure.
Y’all remember that come next the election. They’re going to try to distract you with lots of stuff but don’t fall for it…again!
More to Come!
July 21st, 2009
7:06 pm
Poor Poor Billy Bob…must have not gotten your monthly check, free cheese, and food stamps ….Which was taken from the Private Sector Working Class..to feed your Jerry Springer watching, WWE Fan of the month, DIPSTICK used as a comb lazy fanny.
Sabalon
July 21st, 2009
7:06 pm
As a state employee, I see plenty of waste and ways to save money, but the idiots that make twice what I do are the ones blowing it on a daily basis. But they are the ones that are protected. Their mistakes don’t matter. Let a small worker make a mistake because they are overworked and they are let go. Anyway, when I’m on a furlough day, if you can’t get your e-mail, etc… DON”T CALL ME…I don’t work for you that day!
whatever
July 21st, 2009
7:06 pm
Why do the state employee’s who are under paid as it is have to make up the difference in the state budget? We didn’t get a vote to decide that budget but we get to be the one’s to suffer for it. Why not let the people who are really making the money pay the higher taxes and help with that budget? Why are you just giving money away to companies and high paid executives? HMMM…. maybe because Sonny is one of them and can relate better to them than to the state workers.
YOU ARE A JOKE SONNY!! What was your saying when you were running…. Sonny Cares… about who exactly?