No. 6, Feb. 17, 2004
House Appropriations Committee Acts on FY '04 Amended
Formula Recommendations Untouched; Five Capital Projects Added; GPLS Impacted
The House Appropriations Committee passed its version of the FY 2004 Amended Budget on Monday (Feb. 16), making no changes to the Governor's recommendations for the University System of Georgia's "A" or resident instruction budget, which includes formula funds.
The committee instead confined its changes to the "B units," where the Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS) received some mixed news. The USG's capital budget also saw the addition of five construction projects ranging from $500,000 to $5 million.
The committee recommended deferring the $1.25 million in funding Gov. Sonny Perdue had recommended for Georgia Library PINES (Public Information Network for Electronic Services). This funding is for the operation and maintenance of a public library automation and lending network that serves 50 percent of the state's citizens via 249 libraries in 123 counties.
"We feel that it can wait until FY '05," said Rep. Tom Buck in reporting the committee's decision on PINES funding.
However, Buck said the committee decided to restore $848,300 to the GPLS budget that the Governor had recommended cutting. The majority of these funds are slated for public library grants, while about $160,500 of that amount covers GPLS operating expenses.
Moving on to the capital budget, Buck reported that the Appropriations Committee elected to authorize $14.6 million in bonds for six University System projects.
The projects include:
- $2.5 million for library construction in South Bibb County;
- $500,000 for library expansion in Wheeler County;
- $500,000 for the renovation of historic Davis Hall on the campus of South Georgia College;
- $5 million to fund Phase III of a fine arts building at Georgia Southern University;
- $5 million to construct a new science building at South Georgia College; and
- $1.125 million for a student center for the Clarkston campus of Georgia Perimeter College.
The Appropriations Committee moved the latter project from the FY '05 Budget. The other five projects are new additions to the budget.
The House is expected to pass its version of the FY '04 Amended Budget later this week, after which it will be considered by the Georgia Senate.