Georgia budget proposes spending more on poor students for the first time
House Appropriations Chairman Matt Hatchett speaks about the State's 2026 budget at the Georgia State Capitol on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 in Atlanta. (Natrice Miller/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Natrice Miller]
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia could be about to allocate more money to educate poor public school students for the first time. A House budget approved Tuesday proposes $28 million for poor students, which is far less than what advocates say is necessary. The budget would spend $37.7 billion in state money and $73.1 billion overall in the year beginning July 1. It advances to the Senate for more debate. It would boost spending on prisons, provide another bonus payment for some state retirees, and raise judges’ salaries. Overall, the House plan spends an additional $98 million on public education over what Gov. Brian Kemp recommended, for a total of $16 billion.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.