Lt. Governor Casey Cagle led the Senate to pass the Fiscal Year  2019 budget, which prioritizes funding for Georgia’s families, students, and communities using common sense, conservative principles.

The FY 2019 budget is a testament to Georgia’s continued leadership in cutting back  government waste and investing responsibly in our future. Beyond simply balancing our budget, Georgia has also increased its reserves to more than $2.5 billion. Moreover, notwithstanding a significant increase in population, our state’s per capita spending remains flat at 2007 levels. The State of Georgia is doing more with less, ensuring state spending remains at the lowest possible level.

“Conservative spending and tax policy is the key to continued growth and economic prosperity for our state’s citizens and their communities,” said Lt. Governor Cagle. “This budget maximizes our opportunities for economic growth and generates momentum for investment in the essential services that families across our state rely on every day, while maintaining one of the lowest state tax burdens in the nation. I’m proud of the work by Chairman Hill and members of the Appropriations Committee in prioritizing Georgia’s greatest needs.”

The FY 2019 budget targets investments in transportation, health care, education, and other critically important initiatives.

Highlights include:

More than $160 million toward boosting K-12 education, graduation rates, college accessibility, and career training programs, including a $35.6 million increase to the Zell Miller College Scholarship fund, and $12 million to expand Georgia’s College and Career Academy network.

Over $16 million toward children’s mental health programs, including $10.3 million for psychiatric crisis centers, $2.4 million for mental health care for foster children, and $1 million for suicide prevention programs.

$3.875 million toward an improved statewide health care system, including $1.5 million toward Georgia's Health Coordination and Innovation Council, $375,000 for the Rural Health System Innovation Center, and over $2 million toward the creation of more than 100 new residencies and preceptorships for doctors and nurses.

$7.5 million toward combatting the statewide opioid and addiction epidemic, including $3.5 million toward a statewide drug task force and $4 million toward local community grants for substance abuse and recovery centers.

$6 million toward autism treatment and care programs.

$10 million to improve school safety through local community grants, in addition to $1.6 million for student metal health awareness training.

Over $1.2 million toward targeted rural Georgia funding, including $737,000 toward rural economic development and $858,000 toward the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation.

“Thanks to the leadership of Lt. Governor Cagle and the Senate, Georgia will have a common sense, conservative budget that meets our state’s fiscal obligations and addresses the needs of our children and families, while keeping taxes low,” said Senator Jack Hill, Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. “Combined with our $5 billion income tax cut, Georgia’s residents and employers are better positioned now than ever before to take advantage of our economic and financial success.”