After a surprising $66 million cut to the University System of Georgia’s teaching funds, two Republican state lawmakers may be willing to amend educational losses.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Matt Hatchett and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Blake Tilley recently told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution that they would consider increasing university system funding during next year’s legislative session.
Last week, the Board of Regents delayed increasing tuition rates for their 26 colleges and universities for the upcoming school year. However, because of funding cuts and dropping enrollment rates across Georgia colleges and universities, officials are pressed to find potential solutions. Depending on lawmakers’ decisions, the university system may employ one of two solutions: a possible tuition hike or to distribute part of roughly $500 million in unused university system funds.
As of now, Gov. Brian Kemp has not signed the budget for fiscal year 2024, which includes the $66 million reduction. Chancellor Sonny Perdue expressed hope at a university system meeting last Wednesday that state lawmakers would amend the system’s teaching budget next year.
