No FMAP Extension Forces Budget Cuts by Georgia Governor
Fearing that Congress is not going to approve the enhanced Medicaid match extension incorporated into the state's FY 2011 budget, Governor Sonny Perdue has ordered a 4 percent cut to state agencies starting in August, exempting only K-12 education.
Even though the expected federal money was for the Medicaid program, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports the cuts will affect agencies that hand out driver's licenses, educate college students and run parks, prisons as well as health care programs that cover more than a 1 million Georgians. The cuts may mean increased furlough days for state workers.
The Georgia state budget has already been cut more than $3 billion in the last two years according to the paper.