Dalton Daily Citizen
DALTON — Find other ways to balance budget
I read with great concern the article in Friday’s Daily Citizen outlining the proposed cuts at Dalton State College. Today, I received an e-mail link to a YouTube broadcast from the president of my alma mater, Georgia Southern University, outlining their proposed cuts.
Both institutions are proposing drastic program cuts. These cuts will hurt Georgia for years to come. It will take years for the programs that would be cut to be restored, if they ever are. These cuts will also result in more Georgians losing their jobs, something we cannot sustain. I do not know what program cuts are being proposed by other institutions throughout the state, but I’m sure they are comparable.
As an alumnae of a public university in Georgia and parent of a high school freshman who is beginning to look at college decisions, I want our educational system to be the best it can be. As a small business owner, I want our economy to grow and prosper. Some of my best customers are professors at Dalton State and if they lose their jobs, my business will suffer.
I ask our local legislative delegation to look closely at the proposed $300 million reduction to higher education in Georgia and consider the consequences. We need to find other ways to make our budget balance.
Kathy Jenkins
Dalton
