State budget expected to include more money for K-12 education

For a decade, budget austerity cuts have caused Georgias school districts to be malnourished financially, and if that drop in funding continues, one legislative chairman said the districts could starve to death.

Those were the words of Sen. Lindsey Tippins, R-Marietta, chair of the state senates Education and Youth committee, speaking to reporters last week at an education media symposium at Georgia Public Broadcasting headquarters in Atlanta.

The bottom line is, if we get used to (cuts), the schools are going to starve to death, Tippins said.

Fortunately, Gov. Nathan Deal is expected to boost K-12 education funding when he unveils his budget on Wednesday.

There will be a significant increase in K-12 funding, Deal said in a weekend interview on WSB Radio. It will be done in such a way that it will relieve much of the pressure that local school districts have been under.

Historically, the state budget includes 51 percent allocated toward education, including about 39 percent on K-12 education.

If funding isnt restored, districts have requested more funding flexibility to raise taxes themselves for daily operations. School districts are restricted to using local education sales taxes for construction or equipment purposes.

That flexibility helps school districts where a sales tax wouldnt if, for example, there isnt a Walmart in the county.

Raising taxes statewide is not likely, said Rep. Brooks Coleman, R-Duluth, chairman of the House Education Committee, referring to the failed transportation sales tax around most regions in the state.

The appetite is just not there, Coleman said.

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State budget expected to include more money for K-12 education