Deal adds $167 million to education budget, restores QBE funding

ATLANTA — After more than a decade of education austerity cuts, which resulted in lost class days and teacher and staff furloughs, Gov. Nathan Deal on Tuesday announced an increase in the FY 2019 state revenue estimate by more than $194 million over initial projections, bringing the new revenue estimate to more than $26.2 billion.

As a result, Deal amended his budget recommendation initially presented in January to include an additional $167 million for K-12 education. These funds will ensure the state is fully funding the Quality Basic Education formula and providing local school systems with 100 percent of the state’s share in financing for local schools.

“Georgia’s strong economic growth in recent years has allowed us to invest heavily in education, transportation, public safety and health care,” Deal said. “These investments have in turn helped to create more economic growth by helping Georgia achieve and maintain its ranking as the No. 1 state in which to do business. This year, as a result of stronger-than-anticipated state revenue performance and federal tax reform, I’m amending my FY 2019 budget to include additional funding in a number of areas, including education and transit, two areas that companies often cite as important factors in determining where they wish to grow and expand their businesses.

“The addition of $167 million to K-12 education will bring total funding for education to $9.6 billion. Wednesday marks the end of the regular session and the budget is usually one of the final bills sent to the floor before moving to the governor’s desk for his signature.”

The governor said the additional funding will help struggling schools.

“This investment will give local school systems the opportunity to provide the programs necessary to improve struggling schools and enhance student performance,” he said. “During my time as governor, I have consistently heard from educators who have cited a lack of funding as a barrier to achieving success in their classroom. This additional $167 million will ensure the state is fully doing its financial part to address their concerns. Finally, fully funding QBE provides a stronger foundation to lawmakers and stakeholders to reform this outdated formula to accommodate the needs of today’s students and 21st-century classrooms.

“In keeping up with the demands of a 21st-century economy and work force, and in agreement with House and Senate leadership, we are allocating $100 million in bonds for transit funding. This investment will go a long way in reforming and addressing our transit system needs. Pending passage of a transportation bill I can sign, this funding will go into effect.”

Deal said the impact of the additional funding will be felt statewide.

“I look forward to final passage of a budget that prioritizes the long-term economic health of our state by fully funding our K-12 schools and improving transit opportunities for Georgians statewide,” he said. “These additional investments, along with my other budget priorities, will continue to keep Georgia the top place to live, work and raise a family.”

The budget is currently in conference committee, where three members each from the House and Senate will hammer out final details of the bill.

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle said he was pleased to see a budget that contained no austerity cuts to K-12 education.

“Fully funding QBE will help ensure all of Georgia’s students – regardless of region, county or ZIP code – have access to world-class public schools,” Cagle said. “What makes this achievement so remarkable is that we’re changing how our schools educate students to prioritize funding where our greatest needs exist. Reaching this milestone means we are investing to ensure every third-grader can read, expanding science, technology, engineering, and math programs, and growing Georgia’s College and Career Academy Network and apprenticeships statewide.

“Our commitment to fiscal responsibility and balanced budgeting continues to direct more resources to local schools – providing greater flexibility to serve individual student needs.”

The FY 2019 budget, which contains $9.6 billion for K-12 education, is the highest appropriations for public education in state history.

“Thank you, Gov. Deal, for your proposal to fully fund QBE in the FY 2019 budget,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “This is great news and would be a historic investment in Georgia’s schools and students.”

The Georgia School Boards Association released a statement praising the governor and others for their work on the restored QBE funding.

“The Georgia School Boards Association, Board of Directors is pleased to receive this news, and we extend our most sincere thanks to Gov. Deal for leading this effort. We also appreciate the support of Appropriations Chairmen Sen. Jack Hill and Rep. Terry England, as well as Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and Speaker of the House David Ralston,” said Tom Odom, GSBA president and chairman of the Oconee County Board of Education.

“Our public schools have faced grave financial challenges over the years, and despite those odds, schools have persevered . We are thankful to Gov. Deal and the legislature for this historic restoration of funds to educate Georgia’s public school students,” said Valarie Wilson, GSBA’s executive director. “We have much work to do, and the stakes are higher than they have ever been.”