At $23.7 billion, the governor’s proposed fiscal year 2017 budget is the biggest in Georgia history, due in large part to the additional $812 million of estimated revenue from new motor fuel taxes and fees. The FY17 budget is based on 4.3 percent tax revenue growth over amended FY16, excluding the increase from the motor fuel taxes and fees. Lottery proceeds for HOPE and Pre-K account for another $1.07 billion in FY 2017.
Of the net $748.9 million in growth in the FY17 budget, $449 million increases the Quality Basic Education (QBE) formula for K-12 schools.
The Department of Community Supervision will be formally established this year, with the transfer of $120.96 million from other departments. With this new department comes a focus on transition and re-entry of inmates back into society, which will serve the dual purpose of relieving the costs of incarceration and continuing the present trend of reduced recidivism.
Highlights of FY16-17 proposed budgets
Education
• $821,554 for drivers’ education grants
• $2.5 million in audio-visual grants for schools
• $14.9 million in OneGeorgia for technology “connectivity” grants
• $30 million for increased salary model for Pre-K teachers and for raises
• $49.6 million to fund dual enrollment costs for students in “Move On When Ready”
• $224.1 million for capital outlay bonds for school construction
• $10 million in bonds for buses for local school systems
• $900 million – Total increase in education QBE funding over last three years
• $1.5 billion – Total overall increase in education spending over last three years
Higher education
• $153.8 million in bonds for capital outlay
• $89.4 million – Total increase in funding for HOPE/Zell Miller scholarships
• $118.3 million to technical colleges for capital outlay projects
• “Industrial Maintenance” is now one of 12 strategic industries workforce grant programs (100 percent paid tuition)
• $2 million to public libraries — $1 million for maintenance and repair and $1 million for computer replacement
Natural resources
• $3 million for hazardous waste fund
• $4 million in bonds for shoreline erosion mitigation, Jekyll Island
• $15 million for DNR/parks and facilities improvements
Department of Corrections/Juvenile Justice
• $29.005 million for salary increases for correctional officers
• $30.9 million for hardening and security improvements at state prisons
• $20.4 million for DJJ security improvements
• $3.8 million for DJJ juvenile grants and judicial accountability courts
• $4.3 million for inmate educational programs
Medicaid, PeachCare, Medicaid
• $109 million for net enrollment growth funding
• $59.4 million for child welfare services, including 175 new caseworkers
• $1.2 million for 100 additional slots for new options waiver (NOW)
Economic development
• $10 million for OneGeorgia
• $10 million for regional economic business assistance grants
Other bond highlights
• $100 million for repair of bridges statewide
• $1.015 million to GBI for design of new Savannah crime lab
• $705,000 for equipment for GBI morgue expansion in Dekalb County
• $4.7 million to GBI for 20 additional special agents and five toxicologists
View the FY16 budget at: https://opb.georgia.gov/sites/opb.georgia.gov/files/related_files/site_page/AFY2016%20Governor%27s%20Budget%20Report.pdf
And the FY17 budget at: https://opb.georgia.gov/sites/opb.georgia.gov/files/related_files/site_page/FY%202017%20Governor%27s%20Budget%20Report.pdf
I may be reached at
234 State Capitol, Atlanta, GA 30334
(404) 656-5038 (phone)
(404) 657-7094 (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
