Deal plans whirlwind budget-signing tour

ATLANTA — Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal will make a whirlwind tour to all sectors of the state Wednesday as he signs Georgia’s Fiscal Year 2019 budget and other key pieces of legislation approved by the Legislature during the recently completed 2018 Legislative session.

While Deal will officially sign the FY 2019 budget in the North Wing of the State Capital in a ceremony Wednesday morning at 9 a.m., he will highlight various elements of the budget and sign other acts into law with ceremonial signings in other parts of the state throughout the day, including a stop at the Henry Tift Myers Airport in Tifton at 3:30 p.m., the final leg of his tour.

Deal’s $26 billion state budget lays out Georgia’s spending priorities for the coming fiscal year, which starts July 1. It represents a $1.03 billion increase in total state spending over the 2018 budget approved last year. The budget is based on a lean estimated growth rate of 3.7 percent in general funds over the current budget year. Annual revenue growth averaged 6.3 percent from 2011 to 2017 and 8.4 percent from 2004 to 2007.

The proposed 2019 budget includes $23 million to implement health and foster care recommendations from the governor’s Commission on Children’s Mental Health and $1.5 million for a new Principal Leadership Academy. At the same time, much of the new spending covers the costs associated with naturally rising needs and expenses. About 87 percent of the new money in the 2019 budget pays for growing enrollment in Georgia’s public schools and universities, increased need in Medicaid or the Teacher Retirement System.

“Our greatest resource is our people, and investing in the education of our youth to help them prepare for the jobs of tomorrow is the soundest investment we can make,” Deal said in announcing his budget. “In 2011, plummeting revenues had meant steep cuts across the budget, including to our K-12 and higher education systems. Our lottery-funded programs had become financially unsustainable.

“Since 2011, we have restored $2.7 billion to our K-12 systems, including $59 million in FY 2019. The FY 2019 budget also includes an additional $361.7 million for the Teachers Retirement System to fully fund the actuarially determined employer contribution to keep our pension system on sound footing and ensure the state can meet its future obligations to those who have dedicated their careers to serving the educational needs of our children.”

Another lauded aspect of this year’s budget is its projection of $2.3 billion for the state’s Revenue Shortfall Reserve, or rainy day fund, which essentially acts as a collective savings account for Georgia to pay for core services in the event of an economic recession or unexpected emergency.

During the official signing ceremony at the Capital, Deal will highlight FY 2019 budget priorities including fully funding the Quality Basic Education funding formula, investing in children’s mental health and continued focus on higher education, work force development and transit.

Deal will highlight the FY 2019 investment in the Technical College System of Georgia at a 10:30 a.m. signing ceremony at the Chattahoochee Technical College’s Business Administration Building in Bartow County’s Acworth.

Deal, along with House Speaker David Ralston, will highlight investments made in the University System of Georgia, including funding for a new University of North Georgia campus, at the Fannin County Art Center in Blue Ridge. That ceremony is set for 11:30 a.m.

Deal will sign the budget, along with HB 85/HR 51 (Forestland Protection Act) and HB 673 (Hands-Free Georgia Act) at the Statesboro Bulloch County Airport at 2 p.m. The governor will close out his whirlwind tour at 3:30 p.m. at the Tifton airport, where he will sign the budget, emphasizing the state’s investment in rural communities. He will also sign HB 769, rural health care legislation, and HB 951, which promotes rural economic development and innovation.