January 15, 2016
                     
Table of Contents
FY 17 Budget Released: More Austerity Dollars Replaced
Transportation Funding Still a Burden on Local Districts
Georgia's Pre-K Program Sess Increse for Higher Salaries
Other Ed Budget Highlights
 
Legislative Calendar
Tuesday, Jan. 19 - Joint Budget Hearings - 341 CAP - 10:30am to 11:15am

Wednesday, Jan. 20 - Joint Education Budget Subcommittee Hearing - 341 CAP - 1:00pm - 2:30pm

Wednesday -  
Friday, Jan. 20 - 22nd - In session

Monday - Thursday, Jan. 25th -  28 - In session

Monday, Feb. 1 - In session 
 
 
Week in Review

CLICK HERE
to watch the latest Week in Review podcast to catch up on last week's action under the Gold Dome.
 
 
PAGE Day on
Capitol Hill

Tuesday, February 16th

Keynote Speaker: State School Superintendent Richard Woods

CLICK HERE
for more details and registration.
PAGE Report From the Capitol
 Days 4 and 5      
FY 17 Budget Released: More Austerity Dollars Replaced
  
The Governor's Office of Planning and Budget (OPB) released the FY 17 budget on Thursday, Jan. 14. As expected based on Gov. Deal's comments during his State of the State address on Wednesday, Jan. 13, $300 million was added to the Quality Basic Education (QBE) formula.
 
During the State of the State, Deal stressed that this money was to be used to provide a 3 percent increase in teachers' salaries. However, the decision on how to spend these funds falls directly on local districts - many of which are still reeling from furlough days and massive austerity cuts that have affected their budgets for over a decade.
 
It is important to note that, while this $300 million is a huge step in the right direction, this addition still does not fully restore the full austerity cut (not to mention the billions of dollars lost throughout the duration of these cuts dating back to Sonny Perdue's administration). PAGE commends the governor and his staff for adding this money to the budget; however, there is still between an almost $170 million austerity cut affecting local districts.

CLICK HERE to read the full FY 17 budget.  Education starts on page 192.  
Transportation Funding Still a Burden on Local Districts

The budget for pupil transportation for local districts continues to be severely underfunded to the tune of almost $600 million a year. This deficit plagues all systems in Georgia, but small rural districts are hit the hardest. Many of these districts have to transport students over a long distance, and this increased distance means increased costs. These districts, which already suffer from low property tax revenue, will continue to struggle funding transportation with this large deficit.
Georgia's Pre-K Program Sees Increase
for Higher Salaries
 
Deal's Education Reform Commission recommended significant improvements to the salaries of both lead and assistant Pre-K teachers. The 2017 budget reflects this recommendation with a $26.2 million increase. PAGE commends the Early Childhood Subcommittee of the ERC and particularly Amy Jacobs, the chair of the subcommittee, for their hard work to make this increase happen.
Other Ed Budget Highlights 
 
  • Local districts will also be burdened by an increase in their contribution to the State Health Benefit Plan for non-certified personnel. Currently, local districts cover $746 of these employees' insurance. Starting in January 2017, the districts will see their share increase by $100 to $846.
  • $22.9 million shifted from the Technical College System of Georgia to the Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education program in the Georgia Department of Education (more details to follow in later reports).
  • $2,838,315 to support information technology applications utilized by local school systems.
  • $2,500,000 for audio-video technology and film equipment grants.      
  • $224,185,000 for construction, renovation, and equipment for local school systems and the Georgia Academy for the Blind.
Josh Stephens - Legislative Policy Analyst

Margaret Ciccarelli - Director of Legislative Affairs mciccarelli@pageinc.org
  


PAGE's core business is to provide professional learning for educators that will enhance professional competence and confidence, build leadership qualities and lead to higher academic achievement for students, while providing the best in membership, legislative and legal services and support