The Georgia State Senate passed their version of a funding plan for 2016 on Friday. Habersham County’s Senator John Wilkinson says the $21.8 billion budget includes more money for local schools, North Georgia Technical College and Hope Grants/Scholarships.
The Senate also passed a new transportation funding plan that will change the way the state collects taxes on gasoline and will mean a tax increase for some drivers.
Because the Senate plans differ significantly from the versions passed by the Georgia House, both the 2016 budget and the transportation funding bill will now go to a conference committee to work out a compromise.
Senator John Wilkinson provided the following report to Now Habersham.
On Friday, March 20 the Georgia State Senate passed its version of the State Budget for Fiscal Year 2016. Passing a balanced budget on an annual basis is a constitutional requirement of our state government. Our budget is a good barometer of the priorities that we have as a state. The FY16 General State Funds Revenue Estimate is $21,782,964,314. Of this amount: $977.8 million is derived from lottery proceeds and 998.2 million from motor fuel taxes.
The FY16 budget is built on approximately 4.3% Department of Revenue tax revenue growth over the FY15 amended Revenue Estimate. This is an indication that our state is continuing to recover from the downturn in our economy that caused decreases in revenue for several years. Our total revenues have returned to the levels we enjoyed before the recession. We do have the challenge of providing services for nearly one million additional citizens, as our state continues to grow.
The Senate version of the budget includes $280.0 million additional funds to the Quality Basic Education program to offset the austerity reduction and provide local education authorities with the flexibility to reduce or eliminate furlough days, increase instructional days, or provide salary increases to teachers.
$14.2 million additional funds for salary adjustments for certain identified job classifications within the departments of Corrections, Driver Services, Public Health and Georgia Bureau of Investigation to address recruitment and retention needs in strategic job classifications.
11.3 million additional funds for recruitment and retention of University System of Georgia faculty (10.0 million), additional funds for Board of Regents staff and public librarians to be used for performance incentives or salary adjustments necessary for recruitment and retention (1.3 million). And $3.1 million additional funds for teachers and support personnel with the Technical College System of Georgia to be used for performance incentives or salary adjustments necessary for recruitment and retention initiatives.
As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I was particularly pleased that the Senate version of the budget included $1,180,000 to fund planning and design for the expansion of the Clarkesville campus to support manufacturing at North Georgia Technical College. This will assist existing businesses, as well as, help us recruit new industry into Northeast Georgia.
The Senate also agreed with the Governor and House to increase award amount by 3% in HOPE Grant, Zell Miller Grant, HOPE Private School Scholarship, and Zell Miller Scholarship. It also added $16.8 million to meet projected need and increasing the award amount by 3% for HOPE Public School Scholarship recipients. Money is also included in the budget for judicial pay raises.
On Friday, March 20 the Senate also passed HB170, the transportation funding act of 2015. Transportation infrastructure is one of the factors that makes it possible for Georgia to be rated the number 1 state in the nation to do business. Our state boasts the busiest airport in America, one of the busiest ports in Savannah and a highway system that is consistently rated one of the tops in the country. As our state continues to grow the maintenance and updating of our transportation system is of the upmost importance. Our challenge is to generate funding for transportation improvements in the most fiscally responsible way. HB170 will now go to a House and Senate Conference Committee for deliberation. I am confident we can come up with a plan that moves our state ahead without placing any undue burdens on our citizens.
As the final days of the session are quickly approaching, I encourage anyone with questions or comments to contact my office at any time. I will be happy to talk with you and address any concerns you may have. As always, it is an honor and a privilege to represent District 50 at the Georgia State Capitol.
