Deal makes move on budget promise

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal spoke of lofty goals in his State of the State address this week, tempered by the still volatile economy that makes him cautious in budgeting government funds.

To that end, Deal talked about a campaign promise in his speech the governor says will help the state better monitor how it spends its money: zero-based budgeting.

"[B]eginning this year, we will implement zero-based budgeting in 10 percent of all programs,” the governor said. "Through zero-based budgeting, we will bring a new level of accountability to state government and verify that taxpayer dollars are being spent to meet the priorities of Georgians.”

Zero-based budgeting requires an agency to justify all its spending. Critics argue the process is too cumbersome and time-consuming.

Here"s what Deal said about zero-based budgeting during the 2010 campaign: "As Georgia"s next governor, I will work to ensure effective use of taxpayer dollars by enacting zero-based budgeting. This significant reform of state budget policy will ensure every taxpayer dollar spent is justified and accounted for each year. Even in austere budget years such as this, we have a tremendous opportunity to cut costs and increase efficiency in state government."

About three dozen programs went through zero-based budgeting before Deal unveiled his budget this month. The process resulted in spending reductions of nearly $9 million, Deal"s staff says in the budget. The programs included the Office of Historic Preservation, the state"s Trauma Care Network Commission, the Veterans Memorial Cemetery and the governor"s Office for Children and Families.

Deal spokesman Brian Robinson told us 10 percent of all state agencies went through zero-based budgeting this year and it will eventually be done for the entire state government.

"It"s done on a rolling basis, just as we said it would during the campaign,” Robinson said.

Deal is apparently making progress on his goal to get zero-based budgeting throughout state government. We rate this promise as In The Works.