ATLANTA (AP) – Gov. Nathan Deal urged lawmakers Wednesday to take dramatic action on transportation and education issues facing Georgia, proposing new powers to take over struggling schools but refraining from making any recommendation on how to pay for maintenance of the state’s transportation systems.
“When confronting the challenges of 10 million people – challenges that can appear insurmountable – it’s easy to feel that the tools we’ve been given aren’t up to the task,” Deal said in his State of the State Address.
“When it comes to our constituents’ needs in education, health care, transportation and public safety, the sea seems so great and our boat so small. We may have 10 million challenges, but we also have 10 million oars.”
Deal said later he would consider lawmakers’ proposals to pay for infrastructure as they come forward.
A study committee estimates Georgia needs $1 billion to $1.5 billion more each year to maintain its roads and bridges. The committee found adding roadways or expanding mass transit systems would cost far more.