Georgia’s House budget makers want to shift $100 million to the state’s employee health plan to lessen the burden of health insurance premium increases in public school districts.
The House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday included the change in its vote of approval. House Bill 18It will amend the state’s budget, which ends June 30. House members are likely to vote on a revised budget on Thursday, which includes an additional $2.4 billion in spending after Gov. Brian Kemp. included boosted expected earnings.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Matt Hatchett says the Republican governor’s $1 billion plan to give homeowners property tax refunds will cost $100 million less than Kemp previously estimated. Instead of requiring school districts to pay the full $457 million in one year, the commission extended that $100 million over three years, requiring districts to pay for non-teachers. I want to raise health insurance premiums by 67%.
Congressman rejected Kemp’s plan to provide $25 million in grants to the school system to make up for the learning children missed, instead opting for Kemp’s already proposed school security grant. Added spending.
Other changes include a one-time $250 bonus payment to retired state employees and money to provide a place other than a hotel room if they can’t find a foster home.
Most of the extra money goes into 1s funds $1 Billion State Income Tax Refund RoundThis will return $250 to $500 to the taxpayer. It will also pay a property tax refund, which Kemp said will pay out about $500 to a typical homeowner. Both require separate legislative approval.
Kemp is seeking to spend $32.6 billion in state taxes this year. Including federal and other funds, total spending increases to her $61.6 billion.
Local superintendents are complaining about health insurance premium increases for employees without teaching certificates, including bus drivers, cafeteria workers, guardians and classroom helpers.
The state health plan voted to increase employer contributions by 67%, saying it pays more than it collects. The premium paid directly by the employee will not change.
The state began paying employer shares for teachers and other certified employees, starting in January from $945 to $1,580 per month. The state plans an additional $423 million for certified employees in the remainder of its 2023 budget, and he will receive $846 million in his 2024 budget starting July 1. are planning
However, school districts do pay non-certified employees. The school system expects employer contributions to jump from $945 a month to $1,580 from January 2024. The insurance plan projects that school districts will pay $457 million annually to cover approximately 60,000 employees statewide.
Floyd Fort, superintendent of the Pelham area of 1,400 students in southwestern Georgia, said it would cost more than $300,000 a year to cover the growth of Pelham’s 41 uncertified employees. said it would take His school system, which has an annual budget of $16 million, has already “used up” property taxes and is considering cutting its workforce to cover the cost, he said. Told. That may mean less tutoring and other services, he said.
“You can’t balance budget and copy paper,” Fort said.
Hatchett said that if lawmakers used $100 million, premiums would rise by $211 a month every three years instead of $635 a month.
“Most, if not all, of our school systems now have good cash balances, so hopefully they should be able to absorb that,” Hatchett said. was asked.”
Congressmen want $138.8 million to be spent on school security grants, out of Kemp’s proposed $115.7 million. They said the school district still had nearly $1 billion in his federal COVID-19 funding to spend on improving student academic performance, and Kemp’s call for a $25 million learning loss grant. rejected the plan. Convert that and other cash into security deposits, and that’s $60,000 per school, but lawmakers will allow school districts to decide where the money will be spent.
The House is proposing to spend $14.5 million in one-time bonuses to 55,000 state employee retirement plan retirees, averaging about $250 per retiree, Hatchett said. am. While these retirees have not experienced regular cost of living increases, 1.5% increase in JulyHatchett said the amount was a “first bid” and hoped senators would find more funding. A typical her ERS retiree receives a pension of about $2,000 a month.
Congressman has moved $5 million to provide “alternative housing options” for foster children.Family and Child Services Division now Accommodation of 50-60 foster children per night in hotels Or a courthouse. They are often children with complex behavioral and psychiatric needs, and state officials said they were unable to find foster care, crisis stabilization units in psychiatric facilities to take in the children. I’m here.
