The Georgia Senate set up end-of-session negotiations with the House Thursday by approving a record $23.7 billion budget for the upcoming year.
The Senate voted 53-2 to approve House Bill 751, the budget for fiscal 2017, which begins July 1. The House passed its version of the state budget last month.
The spending plan includes almost $9 billion in K-12 education funding and more than $1 billion in road and bridge projects.
It also includes money to provide 3 percent raises to most of the state’s 200,000 teachers and state employees. Some employees, such as public health nurses, in areas where there is heavy turnover, would see bigger raises. The budget also includes a one-time 3 percent bonus for tens of thousands of state retirees.
House and Senate budget writers will now begin working on a final version of the budget. Lawmakers must give final approval to a spending plan before adjourning later this month.
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