Lt. Gov First GA Official To Take Pay Cut During Coronavirus

ATLANTA, GA — Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan is docking his own pay. In news release Wednesday, Duncan announced that he'd cut his own salary of $91,00 by 14 percent, a cut of nearly $13,000.

The number isn't arbitrary. That's the same percentage included in the May 1 memo from Gov. Brian Kemp’s budget office and the leaders of the House and Senate budget committee: The memo instructed agencies to submit proposals for the 2021 fiscal year beginning July 1 that factored a 14 perfect hole in their budgets, a total of $3.5 billion in cuts.

Macy McFall, who directs legislative affairs for the lieutenant governor's office,. confirmed Duncan's 14 percent pay cut was intended an an act of solidarity, "to fall in line" with the state agencies facing difficult decisions with fewer resources.

"This wasn't a mandate for the lieutenant governor," McFall said. "Obviously [the amount] is not going to make the number-one difference, but it is important to him."

McFall said she was not aware of other state officials considering taking similar cuts, though she added, "the lieutenant governor wouldn't be surprised if other electeds do the same thing. I think everyone understands this is serious time for the budget."

In a news release Monday, Duncan said, "As we work through the budget process ahead of us it will be necessary for everyone to make sacrifices, and I will do my part and take a cut as well.... The fiscal impact of the Coronavirus on our state’s budget is severe and the General Assembly is tasked with making serious cuts to government services and programs, which will affect the lives of the Georgians we serve. These are difficult times accompanied by a lot of uncertainty, but we are all a team and meaningful savings will come as we work together to make the required adjustments."