Federal stimulus is saving Georgia jobs
- not creating them

Georgia so far has spent $702 million in federal stimulus funds.

Florida Times-Union

Stimulus funds have preserved more government jobs than they have created, according to the state's first progress report.

The state has spent $702 million of the $6.5 billion it is expecting from the federal government's special stimulus appropriation, and it has created 11,000 jobs as a result, notes the "section 1512" progress report the state compiled Oct. 15 as required by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

So far, most of the money, $593 million, has gone toward filling a huge gap in the state's budget left by sagging tax collections. Those stabilization funds have gone to education and public-safety programs, saving nearly 13,000 jobs that might otherwise have been cut. Most of those keeping their jobs are teachers, professors and prison guards.

The balance of the money has gone toward a variety of programs, ranging from health care to community development.

… "I would think that the construction side, as opposed to education, would give you more bang for your buck right now," said Donald Sabbarese, director of the Econometric Center of Kennesaw State University. "If you want to stimulate the economy, you want to get your best bang for the buck in a short period."