Georgia House budget writers passed a $19.2 billion spending plan for the upcoming year that removes $10 million in bond money previously approved for the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
The General Assembly approved money in 2010 for the hall's move to Atlanta, but the construction of the facility has been put off, in part because of a fall off in fundraising. Budget writers said the hall funding could be considered later when plans are firmed up.
The spending plan also adds another $85 million in new college construction projects. Combined with what Gov. Nathan Deal proposed early in the year, the budget for fiscal 2013, which begins July 1, would spend about $375 million on campus building and maintenance projects in the university and technical college systems.
The House Appropriations Committee passed the spending plan late Monday and it now heads to the full chamber for a vote Wednesday.
House budget writers made minor changes to the budget Deal proposed in January. They put in more than $3 million for raises for some law enforcement staffers, added $250,000 for what was formerly the State Ethics Commission to upgrade its office technology and $10 million for local road projects.
The biggest additions came in bonds, and University System and Technical College System schools were the biggest beneficiaries.
Budget-writers added $6.5 million for infrastructure expansions at Kennesaw State University. The House budget higher education subcommittee chairman, Rep. Earl Ehrhart, R-Power Springs, is a Kennesaw State booster. The House added $16 million for a new classroom building at the Barrow County campus of Lanier Technical College. Barrow County is represented by House Appropriations Chairman Terry England, R-Auburn.
House budget writers also included $750,000 to help develop a state history museum at the old World of Coca-Cola building in downtown Atlanta. Another $12.5 million was added to buy property for a North Fulton County campus of Gwinnett Technical College.
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