Next year’s state budget will fall short by $1 billion to $2 billion, the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, an Atlanta think tank, said in a report released today.

GBPI Executive Director Alan Essig is fond of pointing out that, when politicians talk about trimming fat and cutting taxes, the money will inevitably come out of popular health care, education and public safety programs, which make up the vast majority of state government expenses. In particular, Gov. Sonny Perdue’s proposed 3.5 percent across-the-board cut would mean $287 million slashed from schools, $80 million from higher education, $80 million from Medicaid and PeachCare and $40 million from prisons, Essig said.

If you think this year’s Athens-Clarke budget battle was bruising, just wait ‘til next year.

Commissioners couldn’t quite bring themselves to cut the $1.75 million necessary to avoid a tax increase, settling at about $1.2 million after Manager Alan Reddish told them gas prices and other expenses are rising even more quickly then anticipated. I just finished writing a story about it, and if you’re reading this on Thursday, it’s in the paper (that’s why no link).

Stopped into a church
I passed along the way
Well I got down on my knees
'Cause they were marryin' gays

As many readers no doubt already heard, the California Supreme Court recently legalized same-sex marriage.

No right-thinking Georgia Republican could let this pass. Gays + California = an election-year gift from God. Of course, He disapproves of both, but the Lord works in mysterious ways. What’s a few Adam and Steves on the Left Coast if you can drum up support at the ballot box in the flyover states? Heck, maybe Hillary will divorce Bill and marry Nancy Pelosi. And maybe Jeremiah Wright will officiate. Then the GOP could really go to town.

Mayor Heidi Davison is going to the mat for her budget as commissioners look for ways to trim it by $1.75 million to avoid a tax increase.

Davison is especially interested in protecting poverty-related expenses like $192,500 for more frequent bus service along Atlanta Highway, Barnett Shoals Road and Cedar Shoals Drive, $93,000 to start a fund for affordable housing and $26,900 to hire a coordinator for a new mental health court.

Democratic activist Maddy Powell and Athens Grow Green’s Beth Gavrilles both forwarded an e-mail Davison is sending around encouraging citizens to tell commissioners they’ll accept a tax increase for such programs. Says the e-mail: