(The Center Square) – The Georgia House of Representatives’ $37.7 billion fiscal year 2026 budget approved by the Appropriations Committee on Monday includes an additional $250 million for the Georgia Department of Corrections.
The budget is up $1.6 billion, or 4.4%, from the fiscal year 2025 budget, according to the House Budget and Research Office.
The additional money for corrections comes after meetings with prison officials about staffing problems and declining facilities before the legislative session began. The amended fiscal year 2025 budget added $345 million.
“The advanced recommendations and cash infusion highlighted the sense of urgency shared between both the executive and legislative branches and our need for swift action to address the pervasive problems with the prison system,” said Rep. Matt Hatchett, R-Dublin.
Part of the funding would be used to move 667 prisoners out of state facilities to other housing units while renovations are made to prisons. Four 125-bed fabricated housing units will be operational in fiscal year 2026. allowing 1,171 inmates to be moved as repairs are made, according to the House Budget and Resource Office.
Also included is $45 million for more than 700 correctional officers to improve inmate to staff ratios, the office said.
The budget sets aside $25 million for a school safety database approved by the House in a school safety package. The database would store information on credible threats made to the state’s schools and students.
A $19.5 million program would fund mental health support grants to school systems. Each middle and high school, 979 statewide, could earn $20,000 each, according to budget highlights.
The House budget includes $7 million for the World Congress Center Authority, which the Senate removed from the FY 2025 mid-year budget. The money would be used for the “execution of public safety and infrastructure costs related to the hosting of future major sporting events, including the Super Bowl 62 and the 2031 NCAA Men’s Final Four.”
Other additions include:
• A new enhanced benefit will cost the state an additional $23.5 million to the Employees’ Retirement System.
• $32 million to fund reimbursement rate increases for providers treating Medicaid patients.
• State judges, from the Supreme Court to the Superior Courts, will have a new salary structure. The budget adds $16.3 million to fund it.
• The Capital Maintenance program would receive a $110 million increase for road resurfacing.
