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By Terry Lewis

ATLANTA — Just when it appeared Albany Technical College’s $4.9 million request to the General Assembly for funding for renovation work on the college’s Carlton Construction Academy was drowning, the Georgia Senate threw the school a $2.44 million lifeline last week.

The Fiscal Year 2018 House Budget did not include funding for the construction academy when House Bill 44 was sent to the Senate after Crossover Day on March 10. The 28th day of the 40-day legislative session is the last day for bills to move from one chamber to the other — or to cross over — and still have a clear path to becoming law this year. The chambers then review and, if necessary, amend each others bills.

When the budget returned to the House from the Senate late week, the upper body had added half ($2.44 million) of the $4.9 million request from Albany Tech. As is customary, the House rejected the Senate Budget revisions, and it was sent to a Joint Conference Committee consisting of three House and three Senate members, where a final spending plan will be hammered out.

The ATC request, however, appeared to be going nowhere until a deal between the two chambers was struck two weeks ago. Several members of the area’s local legislative delegation credit Sen. Freddie Powell Sims, D-Dawson, with getting the partial funding on the Senate side.

That deal, sources say, called for the Senate to fund half of the $4.9 million request into its budget plan, while the House would cover the other half. Those same sources expect the Conference Committee to add the remaining $2.44 million to fully fund the academy renovations. Once the budget is returned to the House for a final vote, it will be sent to the governor for his signature.

“As Secretary of Appropriations, we have had private conversations with both House and Senate leadership and remain hopeful the Carlton Construction Academy will be fully funded.” Rep. Ed Rynders, R-Leesburg, said. “I believe the Carlton Construction Academy can be of meaningful benefit to workforce development for all of Southwest Georgia.”

Late last year, Albany Technical College President Anthony Parker asked the local delegation’s help with securing $4.9 million from the state for Phase II work on the academy. Parker pointed out that Albany Tech paid $7 million in non-state money for Phase I and that the Phase II request would be just the third state-funded project at ATC in the last 22 years.

The renovations would add an additional 23,225 square feet to the facility, and provide much needed space for the college’s diesel technology classrooms.

“Phase II of the Carlton Construction Academy is our delegation’s No. 1 legislative project. We have worked extremely hard, attended closed meetings, written personal letters, and earnestly pleaded our case,” Rep. Darrel Ealum, D-Albany said. “Every decision maker at the Capitol is personally and intimately aware of our needs. Of our 95,000 residents, one-third of us had the place where we live damaged or affected by the January storms. (ATC President Anthony Parker) has shared with me that the completed Academy will position Albany Tech within about six months to begin teaching the skills we need to rebuild our community.

“If we could get fully funded, then we have done something truly remarkable. The budget is now in Conference Committee between the House and the Senate, and we will all know soon.”

The Conference Committee consists of six members — three each from the House and Senate

“I talked to (House Appropriations Chairman) Terry England (of Auburn) and (House Appropriations member) Jan Jones (of Milton) on Thursday and explained our needs to them. Chairman Rynders has also been very helpful in the process,” Rep. Gerald Greene, R-Cuthbert, said. “I am hopeful and optimistic the Conference Committee will include the remaining $2.44 million in the final budget.

“We need this facility now more than ever, considering the rebuilding of Albany could take years. But this is not just an Albany issue, this is also a regional issue.”

Rep. Winfred Dukes noted the teamwork required to reach this point in the budgeting process.

“Sen. Sims and Ed Rynders, along with our entire delegation, have worked very closely in trying to get the project fully funded. And I am cautiously optimistic, based on the work the delegation has done,” Dukes said.

Sims could not be reached for comment Saturday.