Governor Deal’s fiscal year 2015 amended and FY16 general budget proposals were reviewed during a week of budget hearings.
The FY 15 budget grew by 0.4 percent in the amended proposal by Gov. Deal. The FY 16 general budget is based on 4.3 percent growth over the final FY 15 total which amounts to about $800 million in new spending. Here is a partial listing of highlights of the amended and FY 16 budgets.
FY 15 amended budget highlights
• $134 million for a mid-term adjustment for K-12 QBE growth.
• $4.8 million in FY 2015 to provide clinical trials through Georgia Regents University to study the use and safety of cannabidiol in children with medication resistant epilepsy.
• $515,600 to establish the Georgia Film Academy through a cooperative partnership between the University System and the Technical College System.
• $5,802,134 for growth in Accel dual enrollment program for high school students enrolled in college.
• $15,249,459 for child welfare services including $4.9 million for an additional 103 caseworkers to manage increasing child abuse and neglect caseloads and $9.8 million for expenses associated with the increased number of children in state custody.
• $420,038 for five community coordinators, five counselors, one supervisor, and a housing coordinator to support the Governor’s Office of Transition, Support, and Reentry. $3,013,657 to create two charter high schools within the state prison system, additional diesel mechanics and welding vocational programming, and to begin implementation of GED Fast Track and Learning Centers in all correctional facilities will draw down federal funds.
• $15 million for Forestland Protection Grants to counties, including $8,276,945 for school systems.
• $20 million for Regional Economic Business Assistance (REBA) grants. Also there is $20 million for the OneGeorgia Authority for securing new industry locations and expansion.
• $35 million to provide grants to local school systems for broadband internet connectivity through the Connections for Classrooms program.
FY 16 general budget highlights
• Nearly $240 million for K-12 enrollment growth and training and experience to recognize a 1.35 percent increase, bringing the total number of full-time equivalent students funded in FY 2016 to over 1.72 million students and over 121,000 teachers and administrators.
• $280 million in additional funds for school systems through the Quality Basic Education formula to increase instructional days, reduce teacher furloughs, or enhance teacher salaries.
• $1.6 million for the E-Rate program to increase bandwidth to school systems statewide from 3 mbps to 100 mbps.
• $20 million in bonds for the purchase of 259 school buses for local school districts.
• $226 million in bonds to fund the K-12 schools capital outlay program.
• $3 million in additional lottery funds to provide two additional pre-K teachers’ planning days to move from eight to 10 planning days.
• $1.4 million in additional lottery funds to provide 60 additional classes in the Pre-K Summer Transition Program.
• Nearly $52 million to fund the increase in credit hour enrollment, square footage, and employer contributions for health and retirement benefits at Regents institutions.
• $2.5 million in operating funds to continue the establishment and development of the Georgia Film Academy.
• $1 million for advanced manufacturing education and research initiatives at Georgia Southern University.
• Nearly $198 million in bonds for new capital projects as well as major repairs and renovations at all USG institutions.
• $19 million in bonds for new capital projects, as well as repairs, renovations, and equipment at all technical college institutions.
Next week — other agency funding proposals and House action on FY 15 amended.
Legislation, meeting schedules and legislative actions may be accessed at: www.legis.ga.gov.
I may be reached at
234 State Capitol, Atlanta, GA 30334
(404) 656-5038 (phone)
(404) 657-7092 (fax)
E-mail at Jack.Hill@senate.ga.gov
Or call toll-free at
1-800-367-3334 day or night
Reidsville office: (912) 557-3811
