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AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2007 > January > 10
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Perdue unveils budget proposal
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia teachers would get a 3 percent cost-of-living pay raise and a $100 gift card to pay for supplies under a budget plan announced by Gov. Sonny Perdue this afternoon.
In his annual “State of the State Address,” Perdue also said he wants to borrow $417 million to build more schools and $228 million for college construction projects.
Overall, the state budget for fiscal 2008 would hit $20.2 billion, up from $18.6 billion this year.
Under the budget, the average Georgia teacher would get about a $1,400 cost-of-living raise next year. More than half of the state’s 100,000 teachers would also get a 3 percent longevity raise, pushing their gain to about $2,800.
In addition, the state would spend extra money to make sure most teachers don’t see an increase in their health care premiums.
Perdue’s budget plan for fiscal 2008, which begins July 1, calls for $50 million to be spent buying undeveloped land for environmental projection, such as Paulding Forest. Paulding County is represented by House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram), and he has pushed to preserve Paulding Forest.
The budget would also include $19 million for a program called “Go Fish Georgia” to create world-class resources for fishing and boating lovers. The money would buy new ramps along a bass trail that will include 15 sites on Georgia’s major rivers and reservoirs capable of hosting large bass tournaments.
“My goal is to turn Georgia into a fisherman’s paradise,” he told lawmakers.
An electronic version of the Governor’s Amended FY07 and FY08 budgets is available at www.opb.state.ga.us.
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