The General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a record new state budget Wednesday, paving the way for lawmakers to close out the 2017 legislative session.
The budget now goes to Gov. Nathan Deal for his signature.
House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, said the budget deal was struck in fewer legislative working days than during any session in recent history.
The 2017 session is scheduled to end March 30. Since House Bill 44, the budget, is the only thing legislators must approve by law, it opens the door for an early exit. But lawmakers have dozens, if not hundreds, of bills they still want to pass.
The final spending plan largely follows what Deal proposed in January. It tops $49 billion when federal and other funds are included. State tax money totals $25 billion.
The budget would provide 2 percent pay increases for teachers and most state employees, while child protection workers would receive raises of 19 percent. The raises would cost the state about $360 million. Retired state employees would get a 3 percent one-time bonus, as they did last year.
Teachers in some districts got a 3 percent one-time bonus this fiscal year rather than a raise. Because next year's raise is 2 percent, they could wind up earning less during the 2017-2018 school year than they did this year, when they got the bonus.
The spending proposal includes more than $1.15 billion in new construction borrowing, and doctors and dentists will receive an increase in payments for treating Medicaid patients. Nursing homes will get more to care for the elderly. More than $4 million was added for a state Alzheimer’s disease project.
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