Rep. Alan Powell – 2024 Legislative Newsletter – Week Three

By Representative Alan Powell

On January 11, Governor Kemp delivered the State of the State address, outlining his vision for Georgia in 2024 and beyond.

He highlighted the Georgia MATCH program (the nation’s largest direct college admissions initiative) aimed at connecting high school seniors with institutions that best suit their needs; and a number of budget items to help advance the University of Georgia’s mission.

He touched on the state’s current economic status, noting Georgia is ready to support a full range of new and expanding industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics.

As Gov. Kemp discussed his budget proposal with the joint committee, he recapped Georgia’s achievements in recent years and highlighted that more than $5 billion has been directly returned to Georgia taxpayers through tax rebates and suspension of the state’s motor fuel tax in addition to enacting the largest income tax reduction in Georgia history. He also noted that because of sound financial investments, Georgia has remained the number one state in which to do business for 10 consecutive years and remained one of only a few states to have a AAA bond rating.

With the Governor’s recommendations in mind, the Senate and House Appropriations Committees began drafting two budget bills. The first bill, Amended Fiscal Year 2024 (AFY 2024) budget includes approximately $5.06 billion in additional revenue, bringing the FY 2024 budget to $37.51 billion.

AFY 2024 includes a $1.5 billion investment for the Georgia Department of Transportation to maintain our roadways, accelerate construction on “shovel-ready” projects and expedite existing projects; $250 million for the Georgia Environmental Financing Authority’s Georgia Fund to support critical water and wastewater infrastructure development through low-interest loans to local communities; $250 million in additional funds for economic development grants provided through the Regional Economic Business Assistance (REBA) grant program and OneGeorgia Authority, to support economic development projects, promote investment in Georgia businesses, expand grant opportunities for rural site development, and provide further grant opportunities to address workforce housing in our rural communities; $306 million in the AFY 2024 budget to provide a $1,000 pay supplement, to recruit and retain state employees and K-12 teachers.

The second bill, the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY 2025) budget (July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025), is set at a revenue estimate of $36 billion.

Items reflected in this budget include a historic $1 billion investment in the state’s retirement, risk, and health portfolios; $500 million investment in the Employees’ Retirement System; $244 million to K-12 schools for teacher’s health insurance; $630 million to provide a 4% cost-of-living adjustment to state employees.

Additionally, K-12 teachers and other certified employees would see a $2,500 salary increase. $205 million to update the public schools transportation formula; $11 million for K-12 literacy initiatives; $104 million to establish an annual school security grant program for a combined total of more than $1.4 billion in additional funding to meet growth needs, bolster teacher pay, maintain quality health and retirement benefits and improve safety.

A few other noteworthy items in Gov. Kemp’s AFY 2024 and FY 2025 budget proposal include: $1 million to expand access to mental health services for Georgia’s military service members, veterans, and their families; $205 million for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and other entities that address mental health in our state; $9 million for a new behavioral health crisis center; $4 million for the Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Children Fund Commission; $1 million to expand the maternal health pilot program in rural communities; $42 billion to provide a $3,000 salary increase for select POST certified law enforcement officers; $3 million for equipment and vehicles to implement the Georgia Electric Vehicle Charging Program; and $10 million to begin reducing the pre-K classroom size from 22 to 20 students.

There will likely be changes to the governor’s proposed recommendations as the House and Senate continue to work through the budget process, and I will keep you updated as these bills are voted on and finalized.

My number one job is to be your voice at the Capitol. I encourage you to visit your Capitol and call me if you have any questions or concerns. My capitol office number is 404-463-3793. My email is [email protected] or [email protected]. As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your State Representative.