Local & State Headlines

Perdue covers ASU, Albany Tech projects

• Gov. Sonny Perdue includes funding for two Albany higher education projects in his FY 2009 budget proposal.

Carlton Fletcher & Barbara Rivera Holmes

ATLANTA — The city’s institutions of higher education got some good news from the Capitol Wednesday when Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue released his proposed Fiscal Year 2009 budget during the third day of the 2008 legislative session.

Among the items in Perdue’s $21.4 billion budget were $9.15 million for the design and construction of Building K at Albany Technical College and $1.5 million for the design of the Ray Charles Fine Arts Center at Albany State University.

The budget now goes to the House for consideration, after which it will be forwarded to the Senate. Once each house approves a separate version of the budget, the two will meet to negotiate a final package that will then go to Perdue to be signed into law.

Building K would allow Albany Tech to expand its logistics program and provide a new home for that specialty as well as the college’s programs in culinary arts, hotel and restaurant management and its library.

“We’re very excited about this. This is a good opportunity ... a good start,” Albany Tech President Anthony Parker said Wednesday evening. “This gives us a way to go forward and work. We are very optimistic that the governor’s budget will be accepted by the Legislature and that we will be able to move forward.”

He added, “We really appreciate the governor’s support and his confidence in including us in his budget,” and acknowledged the efforts of the local delegation, the college’s foundation board and the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce.

The $1.5 million that the governor earmarked for the design of the long-anticipated Ray Charles center at ASU is an indication that funds for the construction of the project will be coming soon.

“We’re thrilled that the design funding was included in the budget, and we are very optimistic that it will be approved,” Albany State President Everette J. Freeman said. “We are especially grateful for the outstanding leadership and support of the members of the General Assembly from Dougherty and Lee counties.”

State Sen. Michael Meyer von Bremen, D-Albany, said he’s hopeful both proposals will stay in once budget hearings start next week.

“This is certainly good news for Southwest Georgia,” Meyer von Bremen said after reviewing Perdue’s budget proposal.

Tim Martin, president and CEO of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, lauded the “next step” in the process of procuring funds for the two local institutions. Martin had mentioned the projects to state leaders when Perdue, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and House Majority Leader Jerry Keen, R-St. Simons, held a pre-session news conference in Albany last Wednesday.

“I am absolutely ecstatic,” Martin said. “This is the next step in what might be a long process ... but this is an absolutely critical step. It’s not anywhere near being completed, but this is huge.”

Funding for Building K had been a part of the FY 2008 budget before being cut by Perdue.

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