Key committee approves $26 million in spending cuts

The Georgia House will vote Friday on a $19.3 billion midyear budget that would trim $26 million overall but put more money into k-12 schools.

The midyear spending plan — which would run through June 30 — also would fill a more than $200 million hole in the state’s health care program for the poor, elderly and disabled.

The House Appropriations Committee approved the proposal Wednesday, and the full chamber will take it up Friday. Then it moves to the Senate for consideration.

The midyear budget would add $162 million for growth in k-12 school enrollment but cut $73 million in basic teaching funding for the University System of Georgia and $13 million from technical colleges. Most agencies would take midyear cuts because state leaders aren’t sure tax collections will meet expectations if the economy slows during the first half of 2013.

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