State Sen. Hill Tackles Tough Issues

State Sen. Judson Hill, R-Marietta, tackled such issues as illegal immigrants and Georgia's general fund at Thursday night's Town Hall meeting at the Mountain View Library in Marietta.

But of the greatest concern to attendees: the HOPE Scholarship Program.

Since 1993, more than one million Georgia high school students have attended college with the state paying part of tuition through the HOPE Scholarship Program, which is funded by the state lottery. The program was the first and is the largest merit-based scholarship program in the United States.

But now parts of the program are drying up.

According to Gov. Nathan Deal, the 2012 budget does not authorize HOPE expenditures beyond what the lottery brings in. 

“Therefore, we must act now to maintain this jewel known as HOPE,” Deal said during a recent legislative address.

In order to remain in the program, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA. Requirements to get the HOPE scholarship could change now that money is tight.

One thing is certain: the program will not disappear.

According to his website, Hill supports creating more charter schools and providing them with flexibility and expanded local control to meet the needs of students. He has also supported legislation directed at helping save HOPE scholarship funding for college students.

Hill answered residents' concerns about money for special programs and services that end up in the state's general fund. One resident, who asked not to be identified, told Hill that he stopped purchasing the Georgia license plate that supports wildlife conservation because he learned that most of the monies were placed in the general fund for other uses.

The meeting, which started at 6:30 p.m., was well attended by taxpayers, some of whom also discussed the handling of illegal immigrants.

The meeting finished shortly before 8 p.m.

Hill represents District 32, which includes all six of Cobb County's cities and other parts of metro Atlanta. You may contact him by mail at 3102 Raines Court, Marietta, GA 30062,  or by calling 770-565-0024, or by e-mailing judson.hill@senate.ga.gov.