ATLANTA – Gov. Brian Kemp is taking aim at state employee retention and school safety.
Kemp announced Monday that the fiscal 2024 midyear budget will include $330 million for one-time pay supplements of $1,000 for each of about 112,000 state employees and 196,000 teachers and school support staff.
The governor also plans to put more than $100 million toward providing every public school $45,000 for personnel and infrastructure improvements to strengthen campus security.
“Throughout the pandemic, a summer of unrest, and the unprecedented challenges of the last several years, our state employees have worked hard, taken on additional challenges, remained committed to serving their fellow Georgians, and become more streamlined so we remain the best state for opportunity,” Kemp said.
“This retention pay supplement will arrive during the holiday season, and it’s part of my administration’s way of showing our appreciation for all that they do.”
Unlike the pay supplements, the school safety funds will be built into the state’s annual base budget as ongoing expenditures. Kemp previously authorized two school safety grants, with $30,000 going to each public school in 2019 and a second round of $50,000 grants announced earlier this year.
“This additional investment in school safety will benefit every part of the state,” he said.
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who presides over the Georgia Senate, and House Speaker Jon Burns expressed support for both initiatives Monday.
“The safety and wellbeing of our students across the state is always my top priority,” Jones said.
“We want every child in our state to have the opportunity to learn, grow, and explore in a safe and secure environment,” added Burns, R-Newington. “This proposal will help ensure that happens.”