Author Blog Budget and Taxes Policy Areas Timothy Sweeney School Workers, State Retirees Make Gains in 2017 House Budget Passed Today February 19, 2016 / January 17, 2020 by Timothy Sweeney | 2 Comments on School Workers, State Retirees Make Gains in 2017 House Budget Passed Today The Georgia House of Representatives today proposed increased benefits for state retirees and expanding raises to public school support workers as it put its own touches on the governor’s proposed $23.7 billion budget for 2017. State senators get a chance as soon as next week to insert their chamber’s priorities, as Georgia’s 2017 budget makes […] Read more » FY2017 State Budget Tim Sweeney
Author Blog Cash and Safety Net Melissa Johnson Policy Areas Bill Aims at Nonexistent Problem to Target Georgia’s Poor February 19, 2016 / January 17, 2020 by Melissa Johnson Georgia House Bill 1006 proposes to rip another hole in the state’s frayed safety net, cutting lifetime eligibility for cash assistance for the poorest of Georgia’s poor by 75 percent. Lawmakers assigned the bill to the House Health and Human Services Committee this week. At stake: Georgia parents could only receive cash aid from the […] Read more » Melissa Johnson TANF Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Author Claire Suggs Higher Education Library Policy Areas Reports Overview: 2017 Fiscal Year Budget for Higher Education February 17, 2016 / January 17, 2020 by Claire Suggs Gov. Nathan Deal’s proposed budget of $2.47 billion for the state’s two postsecondary systems includes money intended to help increase faculty salaries, which trail those of competing neighbor states. Still, state spending per student in the university system remains far below earlier years, continuing the financial pressures that yielded tuition hikes in recent years. Read […] Read more » Budget Budget & Taxes Claire Suggs Higher Education
Author Claire Suggs K-12 Education Library Policy Areas Reports Another Tax Credit for Private School Scholarships February 16, 2016 / January 17, 2020 by Claire Suggs Georgia lawmakers are considering legislation to create a new tax credit for individuals and corporations that donate to organizations that provide scholarships to K-12 students from low-income families to attend private schools. The proposal, House Bill 865, would establish the Building Educational Success Together (BEST) program, which allows for $25 million in total new tax […] Read more » Education K-12 SSO tax credit
Blog Wesley Tharpe Worker Justice State Minimum Wage Hearing Testimony, Feb. 11, 2016 February 12, 2016 / January 17, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe These written remarks in support of a higher state minimum wage reflect the full version of the abbreviated testimony provided by GBPI’s Wesley Tharpe at the Feb. 11, 2016 meeting of the Georgia Senate Insurance and Labor Committee. Thank you Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. My name is Wesley Tharpe and I serve as […] Read more » Economic Security Georgia Senate Minimum Wage Wesley Tharpe
Author Blog Cash and Safety Net Melissa Johnson Policy Areas Services for Georgia’s Vulnerable Lifted but Challenges Remain February 11, 2016 / January 15, 2020 by Melissa Johnson The evening news confronts us with the plight of Georgia’s most vulnerable people almost nightly, the fragile children, older adults and people living in poverty. The crafting of the state budget is one of few opportunities during the year for lawmakers to spell out concrete steps to protect and assist these Georgians. This year, according […] Read more » Department of Human Services FY2017
Author Cash and Safety Net Library Melissa Johnson Policy Areas Reports Overview: 2017 Fiscal Year Budget for Human Services February 11, 2016 / January 15, 2020 by Melissa Johnson Services for Georgia’s Vulnerable Get Needed Lift Gov. Nathan Deal’s proposed $634 million Department of Human Services budget for the 2017 fiscal year marks a clear change in direction after years of cuts and public criticism of the agency’s ability to protect and assist Georgia’s most vulnerable children and families. The spending plan adds substantial […] Read more » Budget Overview Department of Human Services Economic Security FY2017 Safety Net
Author Fact Sheets Library Policy Areas Wesley Tharpe Worker Justice Better Pay for Honest Work Brief February 9, 2016 / January 15, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe Download our latest brief on the state minimum wage and expanding Georgia’s middle class. In two pages, this document outlines how raising Georgia’s minimum wage can strengthen the state’s economy. Download PDF. Read more »
Author Claire Suggs K-12 Education Library Policy Areas Reports Overview: 2017 Fiscal Year Budget for Lottery-Funded Programs February 4, 2016 / January 15, 2020 by Claire Suggs Gov. Nathan Deal’s proposed budget of nearly $1.05 billion for the state’s lottery-funded programs adds money for needed enhancements to the Pre-Kindergarten program and financial aid for technical college students but falls short of meeting many families’ needs. The nearly $358 million allotted for Pre-K provides money to raise teachers’ salaries, and the $689 million […] Read more » Claire Suggs education budget HOPE Scholarship Pre-K
Blog Claire Suggs K-12 Education Pre-K and HOPE Rebound in 2017 Budget, Still Room to Improve February 4, 2016 / January 15, 2020 by Claire Suggs The nearly $1.05 billion for lottery-funded programs in Gov. Nathan Deal’s proposed budget adds money to increase Pre-Kindergarten teachers’ salaries and expands a grant program for technical college students. These are helpful steps to improve the quality of the Pre-K program and make college more affordable for some students. But more needs to done to […] Read more » Claire Suggs Education HOPE Scholarship Pre-K State Budget
