Next year’s state budget will fall short by $1 billion to $2 billion, the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, an Atlanta think tank, said in a report released today.

GBPI Executive Director Alan Essig is fond of pointing out that, when politicians talk about trimming fat and cutting taxes, the money will inevitably come out of popular health care, education and public safety programs, which make up the vast majority of state government expenses. In particular, Gov. Sonny Perdue’s proposed 3.5 percent across-the-board cut would mean $287 million slashed from schools, $80 million from higher education, $80 million from Medicaid and PeachCare and $40 million from prisons, Essig said.