Report: Georgia House, Senate Reach Budget Deal
On the final day of the 2009 session of the Georgia General Assembly, lawmakers in both chambers have agreed on a compromise on an $18.6 billion budget for 2010. The budget uses federal stimulus dollars to fill gaps in the state Medicaid program and avoids new health insurance premium increases for 225,000 teachers and state employees, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
From the AJC:
It also uses federal stimulus money to fill holes in the budget for Medicaid, the health care program for the poor and disabled
In all, the state budget uses more than $1.3 billion in federal stimulus money to balance in fiscal 2010, which begins July 1. It includes $1.2 billion in borrowing for construction projects, mostly for schools and libraries.
It includes more than $1 billion in spending cuts as well.
The House and Senate are expected to ratify the final plan this evening as the 2009 General Assembly session winds down.
Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Hill (R-Reidsville), said, “There are some bright spots. But there is a lot of pain in this budget.”
House Appropriations Chairman Ben Harbin (R-Evans), said, “It’s ugly. I’m as satisfied as you can be when you’re having to make deep (spending) cuts.”
The Senate version of the budget had included a new health insurance premium increase for most teachers and state employees. However, the House was against increasing premiums, particularly in a year when teachers and state employees aren’t getting cost-of-living raises.
The original House version cut funding for the state Ethics Commission about 60 percent. The final budget plan cuts it $550,000.
Looks like stimulus money from Washington helped state lawmakers avoid some tough decisions. Yet, it appears the new budget still cuts deep.