No. 8, March 1, 2004
Senate Appropriations Committee Restores PINES Funding
Minors Project and Two Priority-List Library Projects Added
The University System of Georgia gained back $1.25 million in funding Gov. Sonny Perdue had recommended for Georgia Library PINES (Public Information Network for Electronic Services) and picked up a minors project when the Senate Appropriations Committee adopted its version of the FY 2004 Amended Budget on Thursday.
The budget also reflected the Senate committee's desire to stick to the priority list for public library construction projects submitted by the Board of Regents. Two library projects added to the FY '04 Amended Budget by the House were replaced by the Senate committee with the top two projects on the regents' priority list.
Reversing actions taken by the House in February, the Senate Appropriations Committee endorsed the Governor's recommendations regarding the inclusion of $1.25 million for PINES and the reduction of the Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS) budget by $848,300.
The two library projects added by the Senate committee provide:
- $2 million in bonds for a project at the Fannin County Public Library (Number
One on the priority list for libraries); and
- $2 million in bonds for a project at the East Coweta County Public Library (Number Two on the priority list for libraries).
The Appropriations Committee also added $5 million for the construction of a classroom building at the Gwinnett University Center (GUC), a project on the Board of Regents' list of minor capital priorities. They moved another minors project - $1.125 for a student center for the Clarkston campus of Georgia Perimeter College - back to the FY '05 Budget, where it had been until the House moved it to the FY '04 Amended Budget in February.
The amended budget now goes to the Senate floor, where it is expected to be adopted this Tuesday.
Highlights of Senate Appropriations Committee
FY '04 Amended Recommendations
- $1.25 million to fund PINES (Public Information Network for Electronic
Services) added back;
- Minors project - $5 million for the construction of a classroom building
at the Gwinnett University Center - added; and
- Funding for construction projects at public libraries in Fannin and Coweta counties added.