“Bittersweet” isn’t the word often used when state officials talk about budgets. But nothing about 2020 has fit the mold, and “bittersweet” was the word Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp used Tuesday when signing the state’s $26 billion FY21 budget that takes effect today.
“To be honest, today is bittersweet,” said Kemp, as he was surrounded by Appropriations Chairs Rep. Terry England (R-Auburn) and Sen. Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia). “Yes, this budget reflects our values as a state. It funds core services and protects the vital mission of our state agencies. This budget prioritizes education, healthcare, and public safety. It puts people over politics and helps ensure a safer, stronger tomorrow for all Georgians. But this budget speaks to some of the hard choices made by state leaders to streamline and innovate. While we were able to avoid draconian cuts, getting this budget to balance was hard. These are challenging times, and the budget reflects that reality.”
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