With Georgia’s state tax revenue expected to exceed $21 billion next fiscal year, Rep. Dan Gasaway says Habersham County students will see improvements. More than half of the planned $946 million in increased spending would go to schools for k-12 education priorities as well as new programs at technical colleges and universities.
Rep. Dan Gasaway (R-Homer) represents the 28th GA House District. His district includes Stephens and Banks Counties and the southern end of Habersham.
Rep. Gasaway provided the following report to Now Habersham:
During week seven of the 2015 Georgia General Assembly, the legislature passed the halfway mark of this year’s session. I will say, with all the winter weather of the past two weeks, I am glad we are headed toward spring. The House made a commitment earlier in the session to deliver the 2016 budget to the Senate by day 23. So on Thursday afternoon of last week, after the most recent thaw, the House convened and passed the 2016 budget. Here are some highlights.
The fiscal year 2016 budget (HB 76) was created with a revenue estimate of $21.7 billion. This budget reflects an increase of $946 million, or 4.5%, over the 2015 fiscal year. The House was able to fund a number of its priorities in the FY 2016 budget including enhanced funding for transportation in cash and bonding, a continuation of State Health Benefit Plan coverage for non-certificated school employees, and support for rural hospitals and provider rate adjustments.
In the House version of the budget, K-12 education receives an infusion of $571.9 million, or 60% of all new revenue. HB 76 provides $164.4 million to fund projected student enrollment growth of 1.33% and increased teacher salaries due to training and experience.
HB 76 includes $116.4 million, or 12% of all new revenue, for higher education needs. This funding includes $56.2 million for formula earnings based on enrollment growth and increased square footage at both the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia. The House version of the budget agrees with the Governor’s proposal to provide $2.5 million in funding for the establishment of the Georgia Film Academy through a cooperative partnership between the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia.
HB 76 provides an additional $5,000,000 for grants to expand the state’s accountability courts and provide additional funding for community-based treatment options for juveniles. It also includes $415,769 for five additional assistant district attorneys to support accountability courts and $582,076 for seven additional assistant district attorneys to support juvenile courts across the state.
HB 76 provides for the consolidation of soil and water conservation activities by moving those respective activities as an attached and reformulated agency to the Department of Agriculture. Funding for water resource and land use planning and flood control watershed structures were transferred to the Environmental Protection Division in the Department of Natural Resources. Consolidation savings of $302,000 will go to the 40 soil and water conservation districts throughout the state for operations
In conclusion, I want to point out the fact that 72% of all new revenue for our state is being directed to education.
Anyone with questions about these issues or any other issues before the General Assembly may reach me at 404-656-0325 or [email protected].
