Senator says more furloughs needed

ATLANTA - Additional state employee furloughs will be needed to balance Georgia's budget, the state's top Republican senator said Monday.

State legislators have pledged to find some $428 million to fund the property tax grants promised to homeowners this year. Gov. Sonny Perdue's budget plan eliminated the grants to help close a $2.2 billion budget shortfall.

State Senate President Pro Tem Tommie Williams said Monday that ``we can't get to $428 million without furloughs.''

Some state agencies already have been requiring employees to take a day off without pay. Others - such as the university system and the Department of Transportation have, so far, refused.

Williams, a Lyons Republican, said that the furloughs shouldn't include prison guards or state law enforcement.