« MA: Many in Jail Eligible to Vote, but Need Access | Main | NH: Op-Ed: No Mandatory Minimums for Child Molesters »
March 24, 2006
GA: 4,300 more cells and 1,000 more pre-kindergarten slots
State Sennate passes 2007 budget
The Associated Press - ATLANTA
The state Senate on Thursday approved a $18.65 billion spending plan which boosts salaries for police and teachers and would funnel money to more disabled Georgians for community-based care.
The budget would also provide money for 4,300 more prison beds to handle the state's booming inmate population and add 1,000 more slots for pre-kindergarten.
It sailed through the Senate 53-0 on Thursday.
The state's tax collections continue to swell, which has made the budget process relatively painless for lawmakers, most of whom are seeking re-election in the fall.
"Our revenues are growing this year at a good clip," Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Jack Hill told the chamber on Thursday.
The budget for fiscal year 2007 would increase spending by $800 million over the recently amended budget for fiscal year 2006. The state's fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30.
Lawmakers on Thursday rejected an amendment that would have provided $4 million to the state's trauma centers.
State Sen. Valencia Seay, D-Riverdale, said the shortage of trauma care in Georgia was placing people's lives at risk.
But state Sen. Renee Unterman, R-Buford, said a study committee was being formed over the summer to investigate shortcomings in trauma care more broadly
"We all recognize the seriousness of the issue," Unterman said.
Sen. Tim Golden complained that the state's debt _ at just under $1 billion _ was too high.
"This borrow and spend philosophy from Washington is moving it's way south and it's got to stop," the Valdosta Democrat said.
The House has already passed its version of the budget and the two chambers must now work out their differences in conference committee.
One of the larger discrepancies was in disability funding. The Senate provided $35.7 million for some 3,000 slots for care for the mentally and developmentally disabled. The House had included funding for just 1,500 slots. The waiting list for services is more than 6,000 people.
The Senate also added $250,000 to open a Georgia trader office in China.
Raises of up to 7 percent for the state troopers, Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents, prison guards and parole officers were included in both chambers. But the Senate stripped out money for two new 50-cadet trooper classes and 16 secretaries for the Georgia State Patrol. Law enforcement officials say the administrative help would free up more troopers for patrol.
State law enforcement officials say they have had a tough time recruiting and retaining qualified officers because of sluggish pay and benefits.
The budget that passed on Thursday included the 4 percent pay raise Gov. Sonny Perdue proposed for teachers.
The budget includes a raise of between 2 and 4 percent for all state employees and freezes health premiums.
The budget eliminated $2 million for improvements to the Riverwalk in Savannah, home to the powerful Republican leader of the Senate, Eric Johnson. Instead, the project is being funded by $8 million in state bonds.
The Senate and the House both rejected a proposal by Perdue to increase funding for the homeowner tax relief grant by $1.7 million.
http://www.accessnorthga.com/news/ap_newfullstory.asp?ID=73044>
Posted by lois at March 24, 2006 11:42 AM