A key Georgia Senate panel Tuesday passed a $19.2 billion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year that would increase state spending by more than $700 million.
But with most top Senate budget-writers representing districts outside of metro Atlanta, some area projects would take a beating in the chamber's plan.
Senate leaders agreed with the House's decision to kill $10 million in funding for the College Football Hall of Fame, which has yet to get off the drawing board. The Senate plan also would cut $750,000 that would have gone to develop a state history museum at the old World of Coca-Cola building in downtown Atlanta, plus $2.5 million Gov. Nathan Deal recommended to renovate a building at Atlanta Regional Hospital.
The Senate plan would add $5 million to build a student services center at Atlanta Metropolitan College and $9.9 million to construct a science building at Clayton State University.
The full Senate will vote Wednesday on the budget for fiscal 2013, which begins July 1. The House earlier approved its version. After the Senate vote, Republican leaders will negotiate a final deal before the 2012 session ends. Typically, lawmakers vote on the final budget on the last day of the session.
Under the Senate spending plan, the state would borrow about $800 million for construction projects statewide and put much of the other new spending into public k-12 schools and colleges to pay for enrollment growth.
Most of the state's more than 200,000 employees and teachers would not get cost-of-living raises next year. That's not a change. Most have not received raises since 2008.
The proposal would set aside $25 million -- half of what the House wanted -- to make road and other improvements in hopes of attracting new businesses, and it would put an extra $10 million into a $100 million program that provides local governments with money to build, maintain and resurface roads and bridges.
Senators projected that the University System of Georgia will save $2.5 million by merging colleges next fiscal year, even though the mergers don't take effect until August 2013, a month into fiscal 2014.
The budget does not take into consideration the tax package lawmakers are voting on this week. State officials say the package of tax cuts and increases would reduce state revenue by about $50 million during the upcoming fiscal year. Senate Rules Chairman Don Balfour, R-Snellville, sponsor of the tax bill, said that issue could be addressed next year.
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