Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue has signed the final version of the State of Georgia’s 2009 budget, and there is good news for Public Health. More than $2.44 million was restored to the budgets of Georgia’s county health departments by the House-Senate Appropriations Conference Committee.

“In these economic times, this is quite an accomplishment and quite a statement about the value of local public health in the eyes of the leaders of the Georgia Legislature,” says Russ Toal, GPHA President. As lawmakers now turn their focus to the 2010 budget Toal calls for continued support. “We need to build upon this 2009 success as we continue to educate our representatives about the importance of maintaining funding for public health.”