This week, I had the honor of joining Gov. Brian Kemp for the partnership announcement between Southern Rivers Energy from Barnesville, Georgia, and Central Georgia EMC, located in Jackson, in Senate District 25.
By joining together, these two companies will provide high-speed internet in 18 Middle Georgia counties to 80,000 homes and businesses.
According to the statement released by the governor, âThe partnership includes a capital investment of more than $210 million overall. Central Georgia EMC will invest $135 million, Southern Rivers Energy (SRE) will invest $53 million, and Conexon will contribute $21.5 million. Monroe County has also committed $1.3 million in local funds to incentivize the EMCs to start their projects in Monroe County.â
by Nyamekye Daniel, The Center Square | February 12, 2021 04:00 PM Print this article
The Georgia General Assembly approved a more than $650 million increase in spending for fiscal year 2021 on Thursday after lawmakers in the Senate and House came to agreement on an amended budget.
Lawmakers approved a plan that restores 60% of K-12 school funding and adds spending for public health, state employee raises, broadband internet expansion, higher education and state vehicles. The bill now heads to Gov. Brian Kemp for final approval.
Two budgets are passed through the General Assembly every legislative session. Lawmakers must review and approve spending for the remainder of the current fiscal year, also known as the Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) budget, and approve the budget for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
Overview: 2022 Fiscal Year Budget for the Department of Public Health
Gov. Brian Kemp proposed a 2022 budget of $269.8 million in state general funds for the Department of Public Health (DPH). The agency is also set to receive $13.7 million from a tobacco industry legal settlement and $1.4 million from the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund. In addition to these state funds, the proposed budget includes $396 million in federal funds. About 57 percent of the agency’s total budget comes from the federal government through programs such as Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block Grant (TANF).
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The third week of the 2021 legislative session under the Gold Dome began Jan. 26. This week was especially busy as we spent four days in session and several House committees held their first meetings, both virtually and in-person, to begin considering legislation.
During our third week of session, the House Appropriations Committee and its subcommittees passed the Amended Fiscal Year 2021 (AFY 2021) budget and sent a finalized supplemental budget to the House Rules Committee. On Thursday, my colleagues and I voted on and passed House Bill 80, the AFY 2021 budget, on the House floor.
State Rep. David Clark, a Republican from Buford, returned to the state Capitol on Thursday, just two days after House Speaker David Ralston had Clark removed from the House floor.