Legislative update: a briefing for faculty and staff of the University System of Georgia, No. 1 (Jan. 9, 2006)

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
A Briefing for Faculty & Staff of the University System of Georgia No. 1, January 9, 2006
"Creating a More Educated Georgia"

Full Formula Funding, Faculty and Staff Salary Increases and Capital Outlay Projects Top USG's Budget Priorities

The Georgia General Assembly convened today under the gold dome of the State Capitol for the start of the 2006 legislative session, as the University System of Georgia awaits the recommendations of Gov. Sonny Perdue regarding its key budget priorities for Fiscal Year 2007.
Topping this list, as always, is full funding for the University System's enrollment growth and maintenance and operations. The Board of Regents'

formula request for FY07 generates $55.2 million. This includes $31.4 million in enrollment earnings (reflecting a credit-hour enrollment increase of 1.6 percent), $6.3 million for operations and maintenance of new facilities (based on a square footage increase totaling 1.27 million square feet), $5.4 million for increased electricity costs, and a total of $12.1 million for increased fringebenefit costs, of which $8.3 million is to meet increased health-insur-

ance premiums and $3.8 million is for new retirees.
The funding formula is critical to enabling the University System to meet student enrollment demand.
Another key budget priority is a salary increase for USG faculty and staff to allow Georgia's higher-education system to remain competitive with faculty salaries in other states.
Other key budget enhancements in the regents' FY07 Budget

Request are initiatives designed to meet two critical statewide needs for an increased number of qualified health-care professionals and improved teacher education.
MRR and Capital Outlay Budget
Major Repair and Rehabilitation (MRR) funding ensures that repairs and renovations are made to guarantee the safety, security and continuing value of the state's physical assets. The re-
See "BUDGET," Page 2...

Membership of Higher Education Committees

The membership of the House and Senate committees responsible for the state's post-secondary education legislative ac-

Next Up...
Highlights of Gov. Sonny Perdue's

tivities, including the affairs of the University System of Georgia, is as follows:

budget ruecommendations, to be delivered to members of the General

Senate Higher Education Committee Chair: Seth Harp, Midland Vice Chair: Brian Kemp, Athens

Assembly in the Governor's State of the State Address.

Secretary: Cecil Staton, Macon

The address scheduled for 3 p.m.

Members: Ronnie Chance, Tyrone Tim Golden, Valdosta Kasim Reed, Atlanta

on Wedneday, Jan. 11, in the House Chamber will be webcast live on gpb.org.

Curt Thompson, Norcross

John Wiles, Marietta

See "Higher Education Committees," Page 3...

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE -- January 9, 2005, Issue No. 1

Budget
Continued from Page 1...
gents are seeking $68.2 million in MRR funds with which to address major renovation and infrastructure projects and reduce the ongo-

ing backlog of needed repair and rehabilitation of facilities System-wide.
Other capital requests include funding for the first eight projects on the Major

Capital Outlay Priorities List and design funds for Projectys 9-17. The board also requested funds for 30 minor capital-outlay projects (projects under $5 million each).

In addition, the regents have requested state funds for the construction of a Nanotechnology Research Center at Georgia Tech as a special economic-initiative project.

Membership of Appropriations Committees

The membership of the House and Senate committees responsible for writing the budget appropriating funding to the state's

House Appropriations Committee Chair:
Ben Harbin, Evans

various agencies is as follows:
Senate Appropriations Committee Chair:
Jack Hill, Reidsville Vice Chair:
Tommie Wlliams, Lyons Secretary:
Eric Johnson, Savannah

Vice Chair-Economic Development: Carl Rogers, Gainesville
Vice Chair-Education: Jan Jones, Alpharetta
Vice Chair-General: Don Parsons, Marietta
Vice Chair-Health: Jeff Brown, LaGrange
Vice Chair-Higher Education:

Members: Don Balfour, Snellville* John Bulloch, Ochlocknee Casey Cagle, Gainesville Vincent Fort, Atlanta*

Bob Smith, Watkinsville* Vice Chair-Public Safety:
Mack Crawford, Zebulon Secretary:
To be announced

Johnny Grant, Milledgeville Bill Hamrick, Carrollton Seth Harp, Midland* George Hooks, Americus Brian Kemp, Athens* Michael Meyer von Bremen, Albany* Dan Moody, Alpharetta Jeff Mullis, Chickamauga Chip Pearson, Dawsonville* Mitch Seabaugh, Sharpsburg Valencia Seay, Riverdale Preston Smith, Rome Terrell Starr, Jonesboro Cecil Staton, Macon (ex-officio)* Bill Stephens, Canton (ex-officio) Horacena Tate, Atlanta Don Thomas, Dalton Regina Thomas, Savannah Steve Thompson, Powder Springs Ross Tolleson, Perry Renee Unterman, Buford

Members: Amos Amerson, Dahlonega Terry Barnard, Glennville Ellis Black, Valdosta Mark Burkhalter, Alpharetta Sue Burmeister, Augusta Mark Butler, Carrollton Jill Chambers, Atlanta Mickey Channell, Greensboro Mike Coan, Lawrenceville Terry Coleman, Eastman Bill Cummings, Rockmart Burke Day, Tybee Island Douglas Dean, Atlanta* Matt Dollar, Marietta Earl Ehrhart, Powder Springs* Barry Fleming, Harlem* Johnny Floyd, Cordele* Ron Forster, Ringgold Rich Golick, Smyrna David Graves, Macon

* Members of the Senate Appropriations Sub-

Gerald Greene, Cuthbert

Committee on Higher Education, chaired by

Brian Kemp, Athens

See "APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEES," Page 3...

-- 2 --

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE -- January 9, 2005, Issue No. 1

Higher Education Committees
Continued from Page 1...
House Higher Education Committee Chair: Bill Hembree, Douglasville Vice Chair: Chuck Sims, Douglas Secretary: Jim Cole, Forsyth
Members: Amos Amerson, Dahlonega Kathy Ashe, Atlanta Ron Borders, Valdosta Gail Buckner, Jonesboro Mike Cheokas, Americus Sharon Cooper, Marietta Pat Gardner, Atlanta Mark Hatfield, Waycross Jane Kidd, Athens David Knight, Griffin Robert Mumford, Conyers Quincy Murphy, Augusta Calvin Smyre, Columbus Len Walker, Loganville

Looking Ahead:
The General Assembly will recess for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday, Jan. 16.
Budget Hearings for state agencies will be conducted next Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 17 and 18.
Interim Chancellor Corlis Cummings currently is scheduled to address the Joint Appropriations Committees on the Governor's recommendations for the University System's Fiscal Year 2007 Budget at 10:05 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18, in Room 341 of the State Capitol.

Appropriations Committees

Continued from Page 2...

Bob Hanner, Parrott Keith Heard, Athens

Alan Powell, Hartwell David Ralston, Blue Ridge

John Heard, Lawrenceville Bill Hembree, Douglasville* Calvin Hill, Woodstock

Robert Ray, Fort Valley Stacey Reece, Gainesville Jay Roberts, Ocilla*

Bob Holmes, Atlanta Penny Houston, Nashville Carolyn Hugley, Columbus

Richard Royal, Camilla* Ed Rynders, Albany Chuck Scheid, Woodstock

Jerry Keen, St. Simons Island Bob Lane, Statesboro* Jeff Lewis, White

Jay Shaw, Lakeland Donna Sheldon, Dacula Lynn Smith, Newnan

John Lunsford, McDonough Judy Manning, Marietta Chuck Martin, Alpharetta*

Tommy Smith, Nicholls Vance Smith, Pine Mountain Calvin Smyre, Columbus

Howard Maxwell, Dallas JoAnn McClinton, Atlanta James Mills, Gainesville

Ron Stephens, Savannah Len Walker, Loganville Wendell Willard, Atlanta

Hinson Mosley, Jesup Jack Murphy, Cumming

Roger Williams, Dalton (ex-officio) John Yates, Griffin*

Larry O'Neal, Warner Robins (ex-officio) Bobby Parham, Milledgeville Larry "Butch" Parrish, Swainsboro DuBose Porter, Dublin

* Members of the House Appropriations SubCommittee on Higher Education, chaired by Bob Smith, Watkinsville

-- 3 --