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Legislative luncheon set for Dec. 10
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Forsyth County News
Lunch and learn
AT&T Legislative Forecast is set for noon Dec. 10 at the Polo Golf and Country Club, 6300 Polo Club Drive. Cost: $20 for chamber members; $30 for nonmembers; and free for South Forsyth Rotarians. Contact: (770)-887-6461 or www.cummingforsythchamber.org.

The state House and Senate look at hundreds of bills each session, but when they convene in January, the budget will gain the most attention.

Forsyth County's five-member state legislative delegation will offer a sneak peak of the upcoming session on Dec. 10 during the annual AT&T Legislative Forecast luncheon.

Sponsored by the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce and the South Forsyth Rotary Club, the legislative forecast will be at the Polo Golf and Country Club.

Carol Spires, who raises funds for Lanier Technical College, is eager to hear about this year's budget.

"We always like to hear what the state budget is facing as far as additional cuts we might be receiving," she said. "It helps us figure out how much in private dollars we may need to raise in the community to make up the difference."

Spires said she's optimistic, but preparing for the worst. This is not a year for the school to ask legislators to fund a big project like it did last session with the new health building and conference center.

But Spires said the event may help her gauge how long it could take state finances to turn around.

John Derucki, president of Derucki Construction Company, said he hopes to hear how Georgia's businesses will be affected by legislation during a recession.

"The slightest changes in either state government or on the federal side of things, impact the small businessman," he said. "I think with everything that's going on in the political arena right now ... if you're in a small business, you really need to pay attention to what's going on in your local, state and federal government."

District 27 state Sen. Jack Murphy said he expects to field questions about tax relief, the budget and economy.

But with the recession and housing slump, the Republican from Cumming said a forecast on when things will pick up is not crystal clear.

"To tell you the truth, I don't know what to tell them," Murphy said. "I don't know when it's liable to pick up. It just depends on if we can get money back circulating.

"Right now, everything is just kind of dead and kind of at a standstill. But we do have some things that will probably materialize over the next year ... that will be good for the state as far as the economy goes."

Kristin Morrissey, a member of the Caney Creek Homeowners Association, said she's going to the lunch to gather information for her community.

She's not a business owner, but is interested in learning more about her local and state government.

"So many people just don't understand how things work and what goes on," she said. "I think if I understand it and can help other people understand it better, then they'll get more involved."