The proposed Fiscal Year 2022 budget for the state contains more than $50 million in bonds to support several projects in the Athens area. District 117 Representative Houston Gaines has more.
"I'm excited that we're able to pass a balanced budget that increases our investments in education, healthcare, and public safety, and we did that while cutting taxes by $140 million for Georgia families. I'm really excited this budget includes a lot of significant local projects/priorities we've been working on this legislative session, including projects at the University of Georgia, Athens Technical College, and $1 million for Athens Transit."
Gaines says the measure passed with unanimous bipartisan support.
The Fiscal Year 2022 budget includes several million dollars in bond funding to support a variety of disciplinary studies at the University of Georgia. HB 81 includes a $5.7 million bond to the university’s STEM Research II Building, a $1.7 million bond for Phase I of the renovation of Science Hill, and a $5 million bond for the design and construction of the Science Hill Modernization project. It also allocates a $5 million bond for design, construction, and equipment for a Multidisciplinary Greenhouse Complex and a $21.7 million bond for Phase I construction of the Poultry Science Complex.
Additionally, the FY 2022 budget includes a $13.085 million bond for the construction of the Industrial Systems Technology Building at Athens Technical College. To support Athens’ critical public transit system, this version of the budget dedicates a $1 million bond to help Athens-Clarke County Transit fund its Transit Administration Operations and Maintenance and Vehicle Storage Facility.
For more information on HB 81, please go to https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/58911.
