Legislative update: a briefing for faculty and staff of the University System of Georgia, No. 11 (Mar. 24, 2008)

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
A Briefing for Faculty & Staff of the University System of Georgia No. 11, March 24, 2008
"Creating a More Educated Georgia"

House Agrees to Formula Increase in FY09 Budget, Adds Several Capital Projects

The Georgia House of Representatives approved its version of the Fiscal Year 2009 budget on Thursday. The House left intact in the state's so-called "big" budget Governor Sonny Perdue's recommendation to increase the University System of Georgia's critical formula funds by $114.7 million.
"This is a good first step, including full funding for our formula increase, which is so important to our missions of teaching, research and service," said Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr. "In light of the increasingly difficult economic times, this is a clear indication that higher education is a priority

Operating Budget
Reductions
u Georgia Research Alliance venture capital $5 million
u Georgia Public Libraries base funding for State Health Benefit Plan premiums $685,605
u Regents Central Office Georgia Building Authority office space rents $30,522

for the state of Georgia," he added. "We will work extremely hard to keep the priority of our funding formula before the Senate."

u Payments to Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission $139,653

As is typical with the budget process, the document will undergo multiple changes as it moves through the General Assembly. The House version of the FY09 budget is outlined in this issue.

Additions
u Restoration of 2.5 percent merit salary increase resident instruction and B Units $4.89 million

Capital Budget Deletions

u Darton College roof repair funding

$75,000

u University of Georgia Griffin campus infrastructure funding $800,000

u Savannah State University equipment for the Behavioral Social Science Building $1.9 million
u Clayton State University Science Building $6.9 million
u Georgia Southern University Health and Human Science Building renovation $4 million
u Skidaway Institute of Oceanography dock renovation $1.2 million

u Scholarship support collegiate sports programs for students with disabilities $773,080
u Funding for production of braille college text materials $500,000
u Armstrong Atlantic State University renovation of the Cyber Crime and Homeland Security facility $63,900
See "Operating Budget," Page 2 ...

See "Captial Budget," Page 2 ...

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE -- March 24, 2008, Issue No. 11

Operating Budget Continued from Page 1...

u Kennesaw State University planning and implementation of a program for disadvantaged youth $200,000
u Albany State University Water Policy Center funding $180,000

u Cooperative Extension Service agronimist position (soybean production for food and biofuels $150,000
u Georgia Public Libraries PINES network expansion $579,714

u Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars funding $45,000

Capital Budget Continued from Page 1...

u Albany State University design funds for Ray Charles Fine Arts Center $1.5 million

u Gainesville State College design funds for an academic facility $2.4 million

u East Georgia College Biology Lab

$700,000

Additions
u Georgia Tech planning funds for an Innovative Learning Resource Center $10 million
u East Georgia College planning funds for East Georgia College program in Statesboro $500,000
u Medical College of Georgia design funds for consolidated School of Dentistry, Medical School and Educational Commons $5 million

u Fort Valley State University Animal Rescue Center $750,000
u University of West Georgia Speaker Murphy Library and Office $8 million
Other Modifications*
u Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry $(10 million)
u Georgia State University/Georgia Perimeter College Alpharetta Center $(1 million)
u Gordon College equipment for the Nurse Health Building $(1.2 million)

* Parentheses around a dollar figure denotes a budget reduction.

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