DALTON — Revenue is down. Federal aid is uncertain, and the impact of the health care law on state coffers is still unknown, say Dalton area lawmakers. Taken together, those factors are going to make putting together a state budget for the next fiscal year a complicated task.

“There are some real unknowns out there when we are talking about the budget,” said Rep. Tom Dickson, R-Cohutta.

Dickson said the talks on the “fiscal cliff” in Washington could have an impact on state budgets if federal grants and other aid are cut.

Dickson and other members of the Whitfield and Murray County delegation to the state House of Representatives met recently with members of the media at Dalton State College.

One thing lawmakers do know is that state revenues slipped 0.7 percent in November from last year. Through the first five months of the fiscal year, which started July 1, revenue is up slightly from the same period in 2011, but still below its pre-recession peak.

“Revenue isn’t where we would hope,” said Rep. John Meadows, R-Calhoun, said.

Lawmakers said they expect to take up ethics reform, though they don’t know exactly what proposals will be on the table. Georgia voters overwhelmingly supported limiting gifts from lobbyists to elected officials in questions on the July primary ballots.

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