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Georgia lawmakers return to Capitol for 1st time in months

ATLANTA — From schools to roads, a battle is looming at the state Capitol as lawmakers scramble to cut $3.5 billion out of the budget.

For the first time in nearly three months, some lawmakers went to the Capitol on Tuesday, and state senators conducted the first in-person hearings.

“I don’t like what we have laid out before us,” state Sen. Ellis Black told Channel 2’s Richard Elliot.

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The lawmakers wore masks, mostly practiced social distancing and listened to each budget presenter as they came in through a side door one by one.

Black told Elliot that it was just weird.

“This is like a ghost town with very few people in here. It’s totally different,” Black said.

The governor is proposing 14% cuts across the board to every state agency. The Department of Education said they’re even considering downsizing their office space.

[RELATED: State lost $1B over last month, meaning massive cuts as lawmakers work to balance budget]

“I think during this COVID-19 situation, it’s really opened our eyes that we can’t operate this way,” said Rusk Roam with the Education Department.

Ellis said he doesn’t like the idea that every agency has to cut 14%, and he doesn’t like the idea of having to furlough teachers.

He thinks that would impact students who have already been impacted by the pandemic.

State Sen. Nikema Williams agrees and thinks education is one of the last things that should feel the budget pain.

“When we’re looking at these budget cuts, education should be the last thing that is on our list. We need to be looking at ways to generate revenue and not just cut,” Williams said.

The full House and Senate are expected back at the state Capitol next month to hammer out the budget.