ATLANTA (AP) — House and Senate leaders have settled on a roughly $41 billion state operating budget comprised of state and federal money for the next fiscal year.
The two chambers will formally adopt the proposal later today, sending the document to Gov. Nathan Deal on the session's final day. The Senate and House budget chairmen say all sides agreed to the details after midnight.
The final version looks a lot like what Deal pitched in January. The budget largely spares K-12 education from budget cuts, while many state agencies will see slight cuts. The pre-kindergarten school year will be expanded, as will HOPE grants for technical college students.
Deal has called for cutting payment rates to health care providers treating Medicaid patients. Lawmakers rejected that idea.
The budget year begins July 1.