Page 14- Wednesday, April 3, 2024
The Sylvania Times
thesy lvaniatimes .com
Georgia Senate Approves Budget
with Pay Raises For Teachers and
Increased Spending
-Joe Brady. Editor
The Georgia Senate has passed a
comprehensive budget proposal that
includes pay raises for public school
teachers and state employees, alongside
significant boosts in spending for
education, healthcare, and mental health
services.
With a resounding 53-1 vote, the Senate
approved the budget totaling $36.1 billion
in state funds and $61 billion overall
for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
This budget represents a decrease from
the current fiscal year, which saw state
spending boosted to $38 billion through
one-time cash injections from Governor
Brian Kemp and legislative measures.
One of the notable provisions in the
budget is a $2,500 pay raise for public
school teachers, effective from July 1,
which would elevate the average teacher
salary in Georgia to over $65,000 annually.
This increase aligns with the proposal put
forth by Governor Kemp earlier in the year
and complements the $1,000 bonus issued
by Kemp in December. Prekindergarten
teachers would also benefit from the same
$2,500 raise.
State and university employees are also
slated for a 4% pay increase, with salaries
capped at $70,000. This raise aims to
address wage disparities, as the typical
state employee currently earns $50,400.
Additionally, certain groups of employees,
such as state law enforcement officers
and child welfare workers, would receive
additional raises of $3,000 each.
However, there are still unresolved
issues within the budget plan, particularly
regarding judicial pay raises. While the
Senate has allocated nearly $20 million
for this purpose, Senator Blake Tillery
advocates for embedding the plan within
a state constitutional amendment, a move
that has yet to advance.
The proposed budget also allocates
significant funds to bolster various
healthcare services, including nursing
homes, home health care providers, dialysis
providers, and therapists. Moreover, the
Senate suggests allocating $30 million
more to enhance domestic violence shelters
and sexual assault response programs,
aiming to offset anticipated cuts in federal
funding.
Despite areas of agreement between
the House and Senate, there are notable
discrepancies. The Senate proposes an
additional $80 million to increase pay for
companies offering home-based services to
individuals with disabilities. Additionally,
it seeks to accelerate the phase-in of
higher premiums for non-certified school
employees, arguing that increased state
funding in education justifies this move.
Key discussions in finalizing the budget
will include Governor Kemp's push to
prioritize one-time spending over ongoing
program funding. This approach could
impact proposed rate increases for medical
and social service providers, among other
areas.
Notably, Georgia's fiscal strategy
involves using surplus cash to pay for
new buildings and equipment instead of
resorting to borrowing. The Senate goes
further by redirecting $33 million from
other areas to pay down debt, potentially
freeing up future spending.
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