An uptick in state revenue, election-year politics, and continued advocacy by public education supporters have coalesced to create a more attractive state education budget this year. Governor Deal released his version of the state budget today, a document which will undergo many changes as it moves through the House, Senate, and conference committee process.
The budget does not contain a state-mandated pay increase for educators, but it does provide formulaic increases for pupil enrollment and educator training and experience. More importantly, the Governor's budget sends over $300 million to local school districts, through the Quality Basic Education funding formula, to ease cuts to public education. The funds are intended to raise educator salaries, reduce furlough days, and lengthen reduced school calendars. Based on local need, each local school district will decide how to address these priorities.
Other highlights of the Governor's proposed budget include $20 million in bonds for school buses, $8.5 million for Georgia's school voucher program, and $25 million in grants for digital education and school wireless enhancements. Although not reflected in current budget documents, apparently, Governor Deal also intends to provide local school districts with assistance in paying increased costs associated with classified employee health insurance.
Deviating from their traditional practice of adjourning during the week of the MLK holiday to conduct budget hearings, legislators will hear abbreviated budget presentations by state agency heads this week. State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge addressed House and Senate members this afternoon, outlining the proposed state education budget less than an hour after the document was made available to him. During the Q & A portion of his presentation, Senator Bill Heath (R-Bremen), seemed to pressure Barge to admit that teacher furloughs have not been caused by state funding cuts, but are instead due to poor spending priorities of local school systems. Barge held firm in his assertion that state school cuts have caused many local systems to furlough employees, an assertion that GBPI's recent report confirms (at least 80% of districts are furloughing staff this year).
Over the next few days, we'll examine the state budget in more detail. Stay tuned, and review Governor Deal's proposed budget, starting on p. 185 HERE
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Shortly before midday in the House chamber, Governor Nathan Deal delivered his annual State of the State address, outlining his plans for the upcoming year. He touted new funds for public education as well as add-backs to QBE to ease ongoing austerity reductions. In his opening remarks, Deal said "the state of our state is excellent. It is a great day in Georgia," and thanked educators and state employees. The Governor said policymakers have worked to "hold the line" on k-12 education, while cutting 12,750 state jobs--a 16% decrease in number of total state employees.
During the education portion of his address, the Governor said his proposed budget contains the largest increase to public education funding in seven years and said these funds will enable the state to partner with local systems to decrease staff furloughs, increase shortened school years, and raise teacher salaries. However, we believe many school districts will not be able to deliver on all of these due to their currently weakened financial condition.
Review the entirety of the State of the State in written form HERE. |
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Hundreds of business-minded Georgians and elected officials attended this morning's Eggs & Issues Breakfast, sponsored by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Governor Deal addressed the group and outlined his economic priorities for the upcoming year, focusing on transportation, jobs, additional monies for local economic development initiatives, and new funding for life-flight helicopters serving the southwest Georgia area. The Governor also briefly outlined several technical college initiatives and mentioned support for elementary reading achievement.
House Speaker David Ralston and Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle participated in a panel at the chamber event. Cagle reiterated his support for charter school systems and technical colleges, but most of the discussion focused on small business support, tax policy, job creation, and other economic development initiatives.
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