‘Go Fish’ project goes ahead — despite huge cuts elsewhere

Amid state employee furloughs and calls for massive spending cuts, work is set to begin this week on the $23 million Go Fish Center down the road from Gov. Sonny Perdue’s home in Houston County.

Department of Natural Resources officials said Perdue signed the contract to get the project moving earlier this month. That was two months after he told state agencies to cut spending 6 percent to make up for a projected $1.6 billion budget shortfall.

But the cutbacks — which will affect everything from schools and health programs to veterans — didn’t include Perdue’s Go Fish Center, which was approved for funding more than a year ago. Perdue’s proposed cuts were for spending approved by lawmakers this year, not in 2007.

The facility, which will include a fish hatchery, welcome center, exhibits and public fishing ponds, is the most expensive piece of Perdue’s Go Fish program aimed at increasing fishing tourism in the state. It is being built in Perry.

Although many of them voted for the budget that included the Go Fish money in 2007, Democrats decried the decision to go forward with the project while the state faces a fiscal crisis.

“This sends a terrible message when you Go Fish at a time you’re asking people to make real-life sacrifices,” said Rep. Al Williams (D-Midway), chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus. “It’s hard for me to explain this to my constituents.”

Williams said he is particularly disturbed that Go Fish is going forward at the same time some veterans are having to find new homes because of the state’s decision to save $2.7 million by closing a Milledgeville domiciliary unit at the Georgia War Veterans Home.

Sen. George Hooks, (D-Americus), former longtime chairman of the Senate budget committee, said, “In today’s climate, with today’s budget, I would be extremely cautious about starting any new projects.”

But Perdue spokesman Bert Brantley said the governor and legislative leaders agreed that the state should go forward with the $1 billion in construction projects approved by lawmakers during the 2008 session. The bonds for the Go Fish Center were sold last fall and this spring.

“If you take back the bond projects, not only are you not taking advantage of the current low construction costs, but you also don’t have this money being pumped into local economies,” Brantley said.

The Go Fish Georgia program was the centerpiece of Perdue’s 2007 legislative agenda. Lawmakers approved $19 million for the program. About $14 million of the $19 million was designated for the Go Fish Center. The rest of the cost for the center is being raised from local governments and other sources.

Go Fish also is funding mega-boat ramps capable of handling hundreds of boats for fishing tournaments.

DNR spokeswoman Beth Brown said the mega-ramps are in the process of being built.

“We’re already getting calls from national bass-fishing tournaments to use those ramps,” Brown said.

Proceeds from bonds approved by lawmakers are not necessarily spent in the year they are approved. Projects aren’t always built, and the bond proceeds sometimes are later approved to be used for other projects.