The $8.92 billion for Georgia’s 180 public school districts in Gov. Nathan Deal’s 2017 budget proposal represents a $415.9 million increase above the 2016 budget. The proposal reduces the austerity cut in state K-12 funding imposed on school districts by $300 million, which leaves a cut of about $166 million in place for the 2017 fiscal year. The positive effect of the partially restored funds is offset by the growing health care and transportation costs districts must cover with local tax dollars due to the state’s shrinking investment in those areas. These mounting financial pressures combined with the remaining austerity belt-tightening could make it difficult for districts to raise teacher salaries as the governor is encouraging them to do. Read the full report.
