Georgia General Assembly Passes $32 Billion State Budget with Education Funding Boost
The spending plan increases K-12 education funding by $800 million, expands Medicaid coverage for postpartum women, and sets aside $500 million for rural broadband expansion.
Tamara Osei
State Politics Reporter
1 min read
ATLANTA — The Georgia General Assembly passed a $32 billion state budget Thursday, sending the spending plan to Governor Brian Kemp for his signature.
The budget increases K-12 education funding by $800 million — the largest single-year increase in state history — expands Medicaid coverage for postpartum women from 60 days to 12 months, and sets aside $500 million for a new rural broadband expansion program.
The education funding increase will be used to raise teacher salaries by an average of $2,500 per year, hire 1,200 additional school counselors, and expand pre-K programs to serve an additional 15,000 children.
Democrats praised the education and Medicaid provisions but criticized the budget for not including a full expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
About the Author
Tamara Osei
State Politics Reporter at Atl Daily Now