The 10th week of Session was mostly committee work preparing for the last day of Session which will be the 29th of March.
The “Big Budget” for 2019 will total $26 billion. That is $1 billion more than last year and includes the $1 billion new Georgia Income Tax cut that both Chambers just passed. Keep in mind, the added monies came from additional revenues from increased prosperity, not new taxes. It’s hard to believe that 90 percent of this $1 billion increase will be spent on non-discretionary expenses in Education (+$582 million) and Healthcare and Human services (+347 million). Another 10 percent increase goes to Public Safety, Economic Development, and other Government expenses.
72 percent of the Budget is in five areas; 38 percent to K-12 Education, 13 percent to Health, 9 percent to the Regents (Universities), 7 percent to Transportation, and 5 percent to service our bonds. Georgia has the best bond rating in the country.
Again, $582 million of new expenditures will be spent on Education. We’ve added half a billion dollar increases in Education every year for the past ten years; in fact, 80 cents of every new dollar spent over the past decade has been spent on Education. Overall, Georgia spends $12 billion on K-12 Education, $10B on Universities and Technical Colleges, and $0.8 on Preschool. Major additions will be made this year to New Construction at $259 million, School Security at$16 million, agriculture education at $10 million, and nurses, buses, and mental health. Another $117 million will be spent on Higher Education Construction, $4 million on Cyber Education, $27 million on Dual Enrollment, and $65 million on HOPE. That is in addition to the Lottery which brings in $1.2 billion a year. Finally, another $361M million will be spent to shore up the teacher retirement fund.
Health and Human Resources will receive an additional $347 million in a myriad of programs that includes Mental Health. The State Retirees will receive a one-time “13th check” and Transportation will spend an additional $32 million for a total of $1.8 billion. Georgia is currently building more roads than any other state. In Economic Development, we’re spending $42B on Bonded projects, $16M to improve our water supply, $3 million to dredge the port in Savannah, $2 million on forestry, and $8M to expand the World Congress Center. Atlanta is now the fourth busiest convention city in America. We’ll also spend $42 million on Rural Development projects.
One of the biggest bills that passed the House this week was “Ava’s Law” which requires insurance companies to provide services for children with Autism. A House Resolution urges Congress to classify Cannabis as a Schedule II drug so that it can be properly researched. An Agricultural Education Act will help support more K-12 activity in this regard.
I’m very pleased with the Georgia Defense Initiative that passed both Chambers. An initiative I’ve been working on for two years, it will align all eight military bases into a single advisory entity. The goal is to speak with one voice to protect our bases, as well as create a pathway to jobs to people in Georgia. Remember, the military is the single largest source of jobs in our state.
I hope you saw me on “Lawmakers” Thursday night on GPB, which dealt mostly with my work for the military.
I certainly need your prayers as I serve the people of Newton and Morgan counties. You may contact me at davebelton112@gmail.com or 706-372-4114.
