The financial year for Georgia’s 26 public colleges and universities starts in July with significant cuts for all institutions in the budget awaiting Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature.
Georgia lawmakers are agreeing to a state budget that will pay full tuition for all college students receiving a HOPE Scholarship while boosting pay for all state and university employees. A House-Senate agreement signed Wednesday sets a $32.5 billion state budget beginning July 1.
Thursday, the Senate passed its plan in a 51-to1 vote, but HB 19 was rejected by the House. With only two days left in the session, their differences must be settled in a conference committee.
Gov. Brian Kemp has signed a $32.5 billion mid-year state budget that includes property tax relief for Georgia homeowners and security grants for every public school in the state.
Georgia House budget writers want a $4,000 pay raise for state law enforcement officers, double the $2,000 pay raise proposed by Gov. Brian Kemp for all state employees and teachers. They also want to pay higher rates to health care providers and expand training of new health care workers.
Georgia's state government ended the 2022 budget year in June with $6.6 billion in surplus cash. Gov. Brian Kemp has plans to spend more than $3 billion through a combination of one-time tax givebacks.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams says it's time for Georgia to use its budget surplus to invest in its residents. In a preview of a speech on the economy she's expected to deliver Tuesday, Abrams says Gov. Brian Kemp and other Republicans have been hurting the state by prioritizing low taxes and low spending.
Prices are going down for almost all of Georgia's 340,000 public university and college students. University System regents voted Tuesday to eliminate a fee in exchange for a big boost in state funding.
Georgia lawmakers agreed Monday on a budget with boosts in spending for K-12 education, universities, mental health and public safety. They're reaping the rewards of a big increase in state revenue as Gov. Brian Kemp and legislators seek reelection this year.
Georgia senators have proposed a much more modest income tax cut than the $1.1 billion plan passed by the House, and also want to sharply reduce tax breaks for film and television productions that have been credited with transforming the state into one of the world's biggest filming hubs.
On Day 35 of the legislative session, the budget was the big-ticket item in the Senate. In the House, debate ensued over a measure for parents to challenge books and materials their children read in school.
Thursday on Political Rewind: As Georgia celebrates St. Patrick's Day, Gov. Brian Kemp finds his own pot of gold by signing off on an extensive midyear budget. Meanwhile, Republican gubernatorial challenger David Perdue heads to Mar-a-Lago and the state Senate advances another bill that will give the state more reach in schools.
