Cut Waste

State government to receive nearly $33 million in federal stimulus for energy-related projects

2009-07-07T09:09:00.000-07:00

Cross-Posted to CaseyCagle.com

Yesterday, the AJC reported that Georgia will be the recipient of $32.9 million in federal stimulus money to boost the state's energy program. This is just a portion of the $367.5 million that state is poised to receive as a result of the $3.1 billion dollar federal bailout program. This first installment of stimulus for energy-related projects will be used to upgrade government buildings to make them more energy efficient, a $65 million dollar undertaking in itself.

Of course, all this money being pumped into the state poses a great opportunity for the misuse of government funds. The Lieutenant Governor has been the leader when it comes to cutting wasteful spending and ensuring taxpayers' money is not being spent frivolously.

As additional funds are provided to the state by the federal government, the Lt. Governor will continue to bring the public's attention to any wasteful spending and expose it here. If you witness any waste in government, please anonymously report it here.

Together, we did it!

2009-04-07T06:39:00.000-07:00

$3.3 billion. That's how much government spending we were able to cut in the 2009 legislative session that concluded last Friday.

$0. That's how much in new state taxes you'll be paying.

Our voices united in an effort to cut wasteful government spending meant we were able to pass a budget in one of the most challenging economic times our state has ever seen without raising taxes. In fact, during the legislative session we fought back several tax increase proposals!

Some highlights of cuts to the budget include:

Nearly $1.5 million in savings by selling a rarely used Department of Transportation plane.
$300,000 saved by printing fewer drivers license manuals and instead utilizing the online version
Over $75,000 saved by reducing funds to build an artificial reef
$60,000 saved by reducing funds for an Administrative Services marketing survey
...and hundreds of thousands of dollars have been saved by reducing funds for the purchase of new state vehicles.

Just as importantly, we were able to preserve important funding priorities without raising taxes in the balanced budget that passed:

We avoided teach furloughs and restored $29 million in school nurse funding
The $140 million deficit faced by Medicaid in fiscal year 2010 has been covered.
Georgia homeowners were protected by extension of the Homeowners Tax Relief Grant.
$23 million in new trauma care funding has been budgeted.
Restored 9 months of funding for each of the Moultrie, Columbus, and Summerville crime labs.
Importantly, our state's rainy day fund has been preserved and over $1 billion in federal stimulus budget stablization funds have been saved for use in the 2010 amended and 2011 budgets.

Thank you for your support of the Cut Waste initiative. The success of this effort is largely due to the calls, letters, and emails to legislators in support of simple principles I laid out in January: cut wasteful government spending, hold the line on taxes, and balance the budget. Together, we did it.

Breaking: Big victory for Georgia taxpayers

2009-02-17T13:05:00.000-08:00

Today marks a big victory for Georgia homeowners -- House Bill 143 was just signed in to law, preserving the Homeowners Tax Relief Grant. Without this bill, 3 million homeowners would have been forced to pay another $200-300 in property taxes this year. In this economy, Georgians shouldn't be forced to decide between paying another tax bill or meeting the immediate needs of their families.

Please watch the video above and forward this page to your friends and spread the word about today's victory for Georgia taxpayers!

Cagle: Senate is Committed to Lower Property Taxes

2009-02-02T06:47:00.000-08:00

Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle today applauded legislation doubling the homestead exemption:

"The Senate has stood strong in our commitment to fight for lower property taxes and not increase the burden on homeowners during this tough economic time. Our proposal to double the homestead exemption will provide necessary relief for homeowners across the state and is a step in the right direction. President Pro-Tem Tommie Williams and Majority Leader Chip Rogers have displayed solid leadership on this issue and we look forward to moving this legislation forward."

In addition to introducing legislation to double the homestead exemption, the Senate is also planning to consider a property tax assessment cap and legislation that would ensure the Homeowners Tax Relief Grant (HTRG) is fully funded this year.

S.B. 83 was dropped on Friday and will be referred to committee for consideration today.

What do you think? Is doubling the homestead exemption to provide much-needed relief for homeowners during these difficult economic times a good idea?

"A New Development in the Tax Debate, Casey Cagle Style"

2009-01-30T14:35:00.000-08:00

Posted by Staff

The Cut Waste initiative and website were created in an effort to improve state government. In that light, we share this story from today's InsiderAdvantage Georgia, highlighting Lt. Governor Cagle's efforts to increase the homestead exemption and provide necessary tax relief to Georgia homeowners during these challenging economic times.

Meanwhile, A New Development in the Tax Debate, Casey Cagle Style
1/30/2009

The tax story keeps unfolding piecemeal in the Georgia Legislature, and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle has just thrown in another piece.

He told reporters Thursday at his weekly briefing he is working towards legislation that would increase the homestead exemption -- the real one, not the pretend one used for the current homeowner tax relief grants -- as a step to shield homeowners if the current tax relief grants are ended.

As you know from our previous story today, the House will vote Friday on measures which would:

Continue the homeowner grants for the current year but make them subject to a revenue test in the future that puts their continuation after that in doubt. The immediate impact is to protect homeowners from receiving $200 and $300 tax bills from their local governments for relief that was granted last year under the program but never funded by the state.

Limit assessment increases on residential and commercial property so that local governments which needed new revenue would have to vote publicly for tax hikes rather than relying on assessment creep to generate fresh cash.

The current homeowner relief program is a convoluted system in which local governments pretend that the $2,000 homestead exemption provided by law is actually an $8,000 exemption, and the state pays the difference -- some $428 million a year.

But that pretend exemption will go away under the action currently contemplated by the governor and under the proposed legislation.

Cagle told reporters his legislation, designed to work more or less in tandem with the House measures, would at least double the real homestead exemption from $2,000 to $4,000.

He said the measure limiting assessment increases, going before the House on Friday, will give homeowners "predictability in their property tax by knowing what the assessed values are going to from one year to the next."

Coupling that with a doubling of the homestead exemption from $2,000 to $4,000 "would reduce their tax burden, as well."

The state would not fund the increased homestead exemption that Cagle proposes. Instead, it would come out of local government revenues. Local governments that were hard pressed would be required to increase taxes, Cagle acknowledged, but he said a front--end tax hike is preferable to back--door increases through assessment creep.

The increased homestead exemption does not require a constitutional amendment, but it does require a statewide referendum. Cagle said he is examining whether that referendum can be scheduled in 2009, alongside municipal elections, rather than waiting an additional year.

Cagle volunteers say "cut the pork!" at annual Wild Hog Supper

2009-01-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

Posted by Staff

Team Cagle volunteers stormed the 47th annual Wild Hog Supper on Sunday, spreading the message about Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle's efforts to cut government spending in the face of a $2 billion budget shortfall. During the event, volunteers handed out "pig cards" that invited attendees to learn more about the Cut Waste initiative. Check out photos of our volunteers in action below, and thanks to everybody for the very warm reception at the event!

Lt. Governor Casey Cagle Outlines Priorities During Annual Eggs and Issues Speech

2009-01-13T12:17:00.000-08:00

Posted by Staff

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Lt. Governor Casey Cagle participated in the Georgia Chamber of Commerce's annual Eggs and Issues Breakfast and spoke to more than 1000 business and community leaders from throughout the state.

Cagle took the opportunity to outline his priorities for this session during his speech:

Cut Spending.

Click here for the link to the original press release.

Georgians Loud and Clear: Cut wasteful government spending!

2009-01-12T07:41:00.000-08:00

I'm pleased to share results from the Georgia Solutions Survey, an online poll I announced in November to give Georgians a direct voice into the 2009 legislative session. Since its launch, response to the Solutions Survey has been tremendous -- in total, we received 3,677 responses!

Overwhelmingly, the message Georgians are sending is loud and clear: cut wasteful government spending and say "no" to new taxes!

In the coming weeks, I pledge to keep you informed of efforts to cut waste in government. I will also be asking for your help -- when legislators want to increase taxes or won't cut the budget, I will need you to make calls, write letters to the editor, and invite friends to participate in our cause. We must keep the pressure on the legislature to do what's right at this critical time in our state's history.

Below are results of the Solutions Survey. Did you participate in the Solutions Survey? Are you surprised by the results? I look forward to reading your comments. -- Casey

Special Events Facility?

2008-12-08T08:07:00.000-08:00

Recent budget problems have forced the City of Atlanta to look at raising taxes and reducing really important services such as police and fire protection. However, things appear to be a lot different for the Fulton County government, where Atlanta is located.

According a recent solicitation for bids that was anonymously submitted to Cutwaste.org, Fulton County is seeking a special events facility in downtown Atlanta's hotel district that can hold up to 300 guests for "banquets" and "celebrations." Among other things, Fulton County wants the facilities to provide breakfasts, lunches, dinners, special vegetarian entrees and "small bowls of mints" for participants. The County also wants to make sure the facility can provide "ficus trees," "poinsettias," and "centerpieces" on demand.

To view a copy of the bid what was forwarded to Cutwaste.org, just click here:

http://www.fultoncountyga.gov/county/bidss/uploads/BID%2009ITB65251YC-AP.pdf

Banquets and celebrations are nice, but when citizens living in Fulton County are facing tax increases and reductions in public safety services, do we really need to be spending large sums of money throwing parties for hundreds of government workers?

Saving PeachCare and Thoughts on ER Visits

2008-10-21T08:22:00.000-07:00

With a budget shortfall exceeding $1.6 billion, we in state government must find ways to reduce state spending without cutting essential services. While I have directed the Senate to identify non-essential government services, there are services rendered that deserve our full support.

I believe that few things are more deserving of our state’s resources than providing healthcare to children in need. The PeachCare program has been a remarkable success. At any given time, it provides affordable healthcare coverage to over 250,000 children in Georgia whose family income falls at or below 235% of the federal poverty level. Using 2007 statistics, that means a family of two parents and two children at 200% of the federal poverty level make approximately $41,300 per year as a household. Under the PeachCare program, this same family only had to pay $56 a month in insurance premiums for those two children. Additionally, families are not asked to pay premiums for children under six years of age.

These are hard working Georgia families that have trouble making ends meet and providing their children of quality healthcare at the same time. I have been a tireless advocate for this program and wholeheartedly believe in its mission.

As you can imagine, large healthcare programs like these are awfully expensive and take up a significant proportion of our state healthcare budget. But is it really in our state’s best interest to sacrifice the health of our children – especially those of lower income families – by removing thousands of children from PeachCare’s rolls? With too many Georgians already receiving much of their healthcare from the emergency room, at an alarmingly high cost to taxpayers, is it a responsible use of tax dollars to take away a child’s health privileges that may ultimately cause them to loose both access to preventive care and the attention of a primary care physician?

As state leaders, it is up to us to properly identify waste in government and eliminate it. Likewise, we must also identify those programs that are essential, like PeachCare, and find reasonable ways to salvage them.

Last year, I was proud to create a Senate PeachCare task force. This five member team came up with several scenarios that could keep this program alive amidst the fear of a reduction in federal matching funds.

After days of consultation with healthcare professionals, CMO’s, state officials, and others, the Senate Task Force proposed a solution that both saved the state $76 million dollars with minimal sacrifice to working families.

The task force proposed adopting a uniform premium set at 1.5% of income, and instituting a $25 co-payment for emergency room visits to encourage patients to seek more affordable treatment options for non-emergency problems. Keeping with our family of four example above, this family would now be asked to pay a monthly premium of only $61 (compared to $56 they pay currently).

One of the most common sense, yet affective portions of this proposal deals with emergency room co-pays. The number one ailment treated in Georgia’s emergency rooms is an “upper respiratory concern”, which is also known as “a cold”. An individual can receive treatment for a cold at their primary care physician for approximately $100. Yet in an emergency room setting, this “upper respiratory concern” costs approximately $14oo per visit. As hospitals absorb costs like this on a daily basis, they are forced to shift these costs onto you and me as consumers. In fact, it has been estimated that non-emergent ER visit cost as much as $33 million annually in Georgia. That is a staggering figure.

To address this concern, the senate proposed a $25 co-pay for PeachCare enrollees for each emergency room visit. This move would not only generate revenue for the PeachCare program but could potentially act as a deterrent for those who continue using the emergency room as their primary care home.

Presuming we take these steps, and work to renegotiate some of the state’s contracts with CMO’s, the projected savings to the state could potentially reach $76 million based on 2007 PeachCare statistics.

Asking families to make very minimal sacrifices in their premiums and pay a small amount when they use the emergency room are both reasonable – and affordable - approaches to salvaging this invaluable program that does so much for Georgia’s young people.

Performance Contracts

2008-09-25T06:55:00.000-07:00

Over recent weeks, I have said time and time again that I believe these difficult economic times provide our state with a unique opportunity: reducing the size of state government. To successfully navigate through these difficult economic times we, as state leaders, now have to ask ourselves: "How can I streamline this agency or department and make them more efficient?"

Below is the first installment of what I believe can be a refreshing dialogue on what we can do to help run government more efficiently.

Cutwaste.org Government Savings Initiative: Performance Contracts

Performance contracts represent one of the most effective tools the private sector has devised for increasing the energy efficiency of buildings and providing energy at much lower costs.

Often, state agencies are located in buildings that are old and in desperate need of repairs, upgrades, and new construction that could dramatically lower annual operational costs, saving money immediately. However, agencies are often short funds to make these changes and incur energy costs that are far too high year after year. As a result, the taxpayers pay millions in unneeded energy expenses caused by old systems, inefficient lighting, leaky pipes and other issues. Most other states have been able to solve this problem by bringing in outside contractors who do the energy saving upgrade work at no cost to the state, and are paid only from the funds saved as a result of the changes. This is a great solution because it saves energy, uprgrades state buildings and doesn’t cost the state a dime. The contractor literally agrees to write a check to the state if costs of a project are greater than the amount of money it saves.

For example, Johnson Controls recently used performance contracts in South Carolina to build a clean energy biomass plant that generates steam and electricity (enough to power 800 to 1000 homes) using only bark and other waste from a nearby paper plant. The new facility was built on a performance contract and is predicted to save the State of South Carolina up to $2 million per year when it is operational. Plus, the environmentally sound facility just a few blocks from the statehouse includes a classroom inside the structure where students can learn about environmental energy.

Unfortunately, highly technical legal issues make it difficult for agencies in Georgia to sign multi-year performance contracts even as other states are taking advantage of them left and right.

Based on information received through cutwaste.org, our staff has begun reviewing this issue and looking for the best way to remove legal obstacles so that Georgia can begin using performance contracts to leverage private capital to save taxpayer dollars and protect our natural resources.

A Message from Lt. Governor Casey Cagle:

2008-09-11T09:57:00.001-07:00

Thank you for visiting cutwaste.org. I decided to launch this website as we began the process earlier this summer of slashing spending from the state budget.

Unlike the federal government, Georgia is required to constitutionally balance its budget. This means when the economy slows, we can't borrow money to avoid cuts like the federal government can. This is a great feature of our state constitution because it forces state elected officials to make hard decisions when tax collections drop in a slow economy.

However, as you might imagine, cutting millions in state spending is never an easy process. Many things we spend money on -- such as prisons, roads, colleges, schools, and law enforcement -- are absolutely critical to public safety and our future, and can't be cut too deeply. This means we critically need to find specific ways to do more for less with taxpayer dollars.

This may mean finding a more efficient way to perform the basic functions that government must accomplish. Governor Sonny Perdue has done a great job in this area, particularly through his Commission for New Georgia, which uses leading citizens to make government agencies find private-sector style efficiencies to save money.

In other cases, government may simply be wasting funds on programs that have no purpose or on activities that aren't tied to any useful program at all. This kind of waste should be located, spotlighted, and slashed from the budget as quickly as possible.

What I want to ask you to do is play a role in achieving one or both of these goals. Georgia's citizens are our best assets for spotlighting government waste at the federal, state, and local level. Please join the fight.