Georgia’s 2018 budget emphasizes education

In his proposed fiscal year 2018 state budget, Gov. Nathan Deal has his sights set on increasing Georgia’s education standards. Among a series of statewide services improvements and raises, the budget includes the following provisions benefiting education:• Provide a 2 percent increase to the state base salary schedule for certified personnel, school bus drivers and school nurses.• Increase the award amount for HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship by 3 percent.• Assist low-wealth school systems.• Build and/or renovate local school facilities.• Increase the Tuition Equalization Grants award amount from $900 to $1,000 per year.• Grow the Move on When Ready dual enrollment program.• Fully fund the actuarially determined employer contribution for the Public School Employees Retirement System.• Help create the Georgia Center for Early Language and Literacy which “will help develop literacy skills for children from birth to age 8” in communities statewide.

Along with those increases, however, were some cuts to programs such as the Teacher’s Retirement System ($25,000) due to smaller amounts of qualifying employees. But these losses appear to be covered by boosts in salary and other allotments. The budget cleared the State House on Feb. 17 near-unanimously and is on its way to the State Senate.