House budget-writers vowed to stop a five-year cycle of school cuts next year by pumping $140 million extra into education.

Much of that extra money would go to metro Atlanta schools.

They also promised to raise the salaries of prison workers and state troopers to make those jobs more appealing.

House Appropriations Chairman Ben Harbin (R-Evans) was joined by lawmakers from both parties, law enforcement officers and medical school students Thursday morning when he announced the House's priorities for the upcoming year's budget. Fiscal 2009 begins July 1.

Harbin told reporters House members want to build a solid foundation for the state.

"It does no good if we have a big-screen TV if we don't have a house to put it in," he said.

Democrats applauded Harbin and Republican House leaders for promising to end the school cuts that have totaled about $1.4 billion since Gov. Sonny Perdue took office in 2003.

"We have been calling for this all along because it has caused property taxes to rise throughout the state," said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus). "I am delighted that House Republicans have finally realized what this has done to Georgia's schools and property owners."

Perdue included more than $140 million in school "austerity cuts" in his budget plan for fiscal 2009. Perdue's staff argues that, overall, education will get a funding increase in his budget. Critics argue the budget has not kept up with the growth in enrollment, and that the cuts have led school systems to raise local property taxes.

Republicans have long sided with Perdue on the cuts, but that has changed this year. Every lawmaker is up for re-election this fall.

Rep. Jan Jones (R-Alpharetta), head of the House Appropriations education subcommittee, said eliminating the cuts in fiscal 2009 would mean an extra $87 in funding per student statewide.

In metro Atlanta, it would mean $9.5 million for Cobb County schools, $4.3 million more for the Atlanta city system, $7 million more for Fulton County, $8.5 million for DeKalb, $13.5 million more in Gwinnett, $3.3 million more in Henry County, $2 million more for Fayette schools, $2.6 million more in Forsyth schools, $3.2 million more in Cherokee County, and $4.2 million more in Clayton County.

Rep. Chuck Martin (R-Alpharetta), House Appropriations vice chairman for public safety, said lawmakers haven't settled on a specific pay raise for prison workers and troopers.

"It's time to take care of those who take care of us," Martin said.

Harbin said the House also would work to fund a trauma care network, possibly by dedicating for that purpose the more than $90 million the state collects from its .25 mill property tax. Perdue wants to eliminate the tax, and the Senate has passed a resolution to do just that.

Harbin said House members don't yet know exactly how they will pay for the increased school and public safety spending. He said his chamber is just starting its work on the upcoming year's budget.