Deal: Georgia State Archives to remain open
Facility would have closed to public on Nov. 1
- Morrow Tourism
- Georgia State Archives in Morrow
The State Archives in Morrow, which Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp had planned to close to meet budget cuts ordered by Gov. Nathan Deal, will remain a full-time facility. At least until the next July, when Deal hopes the facility will be absorbed by the state university system.
According to a statement from office of the state's chief executive, Deal's team restored $125,000 to keep the facility, which houses some of Georgia's most historic documents and artifacts, open. From Deal:
The extra funding provides for Georgia State Archives to be open to the public through June 30 of next year. On July 1, the Georgia Archives will be transferred to University System of Georgia, pending approval of the move by the General Assembly. This transfer will include appropriations required for operation and assets of the Georgia Archives. Additional staff will be provided by USG at that time. Deal and Kemp intend to find efficiencies by consolidating the Archives under the University System of Georgia, just as the state has sought to do with the library system.
Peach Pundit's Charlie Harper is applauding Kemp's strategy of closing the archives, which he surely knew would spark a public outcry and cause the governor to reinstate the cash. It worked.
We're waiting for word from Kemp's office about how the move affects staffers who were told they'd be let go (or who might have already been laid off).