Gov. Sonny Perdue has signed legislation that would hike dozens of Georgia user fees and slap a new tax on hospitals to help balance the state's struggling budget.

The legislation Perdue signed Wednesday would also cut taxes for property owners and upper-income senior citizens.

Perdue said the measure "ensures a balanced budget and lays the groundwork for economic recovery."

The tax cuts would phase in over five years were tacked on to give GOP legislators cover to vote for the hospital tax.

Perdue has pushed both tax cuts in past years without success.

Together, they'll mean the loss of $387 million in revenue when they are fully phased in by 2016.

Tags: lawmakers, bill, tax, legislation, Governor Sonny Perdue, Hospital tax, senior citizes