>>> THE GOVERNMENT FORCING THESE CHILDREN TO WEAR MASKS, AND THIS IS WHERE THE REDUCED LEARNING IS COMING IN, THEY'RE SPENDING 30% OF THEIR TIME TRYING TO GET THAT CHILD TO WEAR THAT MASK THE CORRECT WAY, AND IT'S STILL NOT WORKING.

SO THEY'RE LOSING THAT 30% OF THE TIME.

INSTEAD OF TEACHING THE CHILDREN WHAT THEY SHOULD ACTUALLY BE LEARNING.

>> REPRESENTATIVE DOMINIC LARICIA AMONG THOSE VOICING AN OPINION AS THEY DEBATE THE UNMASKED GEORGIA STUDENTS ACT.

WELCOME TO LAWMAKERS ON THIS DAY 32 OF THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND OUR ANNUAL HOUR-LONG SPECIAL ON THE BUDGET.

I'M DONNA LOWRY IN ATLANTA.

MORE ON THE BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW PARENTS TO DECIDE WHETHER THEIR CHILDREN SHOULD WEAR A MASK WHILE IN SCHOOL COMING UP.

>> ALSO TODAY, ATLANTA MAYOR ANDRE DICKENS VISITED THE CAPITAL TO TALK ABOUT HIS INITIATIVES DEALING WITH CRIME ISSUES.

BUT WE'LL SPEND MOST OF THE SHOW BREAKING DOWN THE STATE BUDGET.

LOOKING AT WHERE THE MONEY WILL GO AND HOW THE STATE PLANS TO SPEND SOME OF THE $3.7 BILLION IN REVENUE SURPLUS.

WE HAVE THE LEGISLATURE'S TOP BUDGET GURU, THEY'RE WITH US IN THE STUDIO.

NOW, LET'S HEAD TO THE GOLD DOME AND CAPITAL CORRESPONDENT BRENDA WATERS FOR A LOOK AT THE DAY'S NEWS.

PRETTY QUIET IN BOTH CHAMBERS TODAY, WASN'T IT?

>> IT WAS, DONNA.

HI THERE.

ALL WAS QUIET ON THE HOUSE AND SENATE FLOORS, NO BILLS, NO DEBATE, AND BOTH CHAMBERS ADJOURNED EARLY.

BUT THERE WAS A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE CAPITAL THIS MORNING.

IT WAS ATTENDED BY DEMOCRATIC STATE, CITY, AND COUNTY LEADERS.

IT ADDRESSED CRIME AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN ATLANTA.

>> THE PRES CONFERENCE ORGANIZED BY SENATOR SONYA HAL PRN GAVE AN UPDATE ON HOW THE CITY IS COPING WITH CRIME.

>> THE PEOPLE STANDING BESIDE ME TODAY AND COUNTLESS OTHERS ARE WORKING EVERY DAY TO IMPROVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, KEEP PEOPLE SAFE, AND SHOW THE WORLD WHY ATLANTA IS THE CROWN JEWEL OF THE SOUTH.

>> MAYOR ANDRE DICKENS LAID OUT HIS PLAN AND WHAT HE'S ALREADY COMPLETED WITH FEWER THAN 100 DAYS UNDER HIS BELT AS MAYOR.

>> IN JANUARY, WE SIGNED A TEN-YEAR LEASE WITH COUSINS PROPERTIES TO HOUSE A NEW PRECINCT IN ZONE TWO IN BUCKHEAD.

I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT CONSTRUCTION ON THAT PROJECT IS MOVING FORWARD EACH AND EVERY DAY.

WE PLAN TO STAFF THIS NEW PRECINCT WITH AT LEAST A DOZEN OFFICERS BY THIS SUMMER.

SOME OF THESE OFFICERS MAY COME FROM EITHER OF THE TWO RECRUITING CLASSES THAT WE HAVE WHICH WILL GRADUATE THIS SPRING AND SUMMER.

>> MAYOR DICKENS SAYS HE IS LASER FOCUSED ON HIRING 250 MORE OFFICERS THIS YEAR.

ADDING APPLICATIONS ARE UP FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO JOIN THE ATLANTA POLICE FORCE.

SINCE TAKING OFFICE, THE MAYOR HAS SAID THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IS KEEPING RESIDENTS SAFE.

>> YOU HAVE SEEN THE PHOENIX AIR UNIT IN THE SKY.

THIS HELICOPTER THAT'S FLYING ABOUT, CATCHING THIEVES AND STREET RACERS.

>> WHEN ASKED ABOUT RECENT MURDERS IN THE CITY.

>> THESE ARE NOT STRANGERS BEING INVOLVED IN THESE KILLINGS.

THIS IS NOT RANDOM.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE AVOIDED.

A LOT OF DOMESTIC ISSUES.

SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.

THAT'S NOT JUST A COPS WITH BADGES AND GUNS SOLUTION.

THIS IS A COMMUNITY RESPONSE, SOMETHING THAT SAYS THAT WE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO SETTLE DISPUTES IN A BETTER WAY.

>> ALSO HERE AT THE CAPITOL, SENATE BILL 514 PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE THIS AFTERNOON.

11-6.

NOW, THIS IS A BILL ENDORSED BY GOVERNOR CAMP.

IT'S CALLED THE UNMASK GEORGIA STUDENTS ACT.

IT PROHIBITS LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM IMPOSING MASK MANDATES, GIVING PARENTS ULTIMATE CONTROL IN DECIDING WHETHER TO MASK THEIR CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOM.

WHEN SENATOR CLINT DIXON INTRODUCED THE MEASURE, IT RECEIVED A BROAD SUPPORT, BROAD SUPPORT, RATHER, FROM REPUBLICANS ON THE COMMITTEE.

>> WOULD ANYTHING IN THIS BILL PROHIBIT ME AS A PARENT IF I WANT MY CHILD TO WEAR A MASK IN THEIR SCHOOL FOR ANY REASON, WHETHER IT BE COVID-19 OR A FLU OR ANY OTHER LOCAL OUTBREAK, WOULD I BE PROHIBITED AS A PARENT FROM DOING THAT?

>> NO, YOU WOULD NOT.

>> WOULD MY WIFE IF SHE DECIDED DUE TO HER OWN PERSONAL NEEDS AND HER DOCTOR'S ADVICE, ANYTHING THAT WOULD PROHIBIT MY WIFE FROM WEARING A MASK?

>> NORTHWEST.

>> HAS ANYBODY HAD ANY CONVERSATION ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IF WE WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT MANDATING THAT NO MASKS COULD EVER BE WORN AT ANY TIME AND THE ENCROACHMENT ON THAT FREEDOM?

HAS THAT TOPIC COME UP IN YOUR DEBATE OF THIS ISSUE?

>> NO, SIR.

>> I THINK THAT'S THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN THAT HAS BEEN LOST, AND I APPRECIATE THE BILL.

>> SB-514 COULD GO TO THE HOUSE FLOOR BEFORE THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDS.

THAT'S MY CAPITOL REPORT.

DONNA, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRENDA.

>> TONIGHT'S TOPIC FOR THE REST OF THE HOUR IS THE STATE BUDGET.

LEGISLATORS HAVE JUST ONE JOB EVERY YEAR, AND THAT'S TO PASS A BALANCED BUDGET.

IT'S THE ONLY REQUIREMENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN THE CONSTITUTION.

THE HOUSE RECENTLY PASSED ITS VERSION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 BUDGET, AND NOW IT HEADS TO THE SENATE.

IN THIS HOUR, WE GET A CLOSE-UP LOOK AT WHAT'S IN THE $30.2 BILLION STATE SPENDING PLAN.

WE'LL GET THAT FROM THE EXPERTS, THE PAIR WHO LEAD APPROPRIATIONS IN EACH CHAMBER.

IN THE HOUSE, TERRY ENGLAND OF AUBURN.

AND IN THE SENATE, CHAIRMAN BLAKE TILLARY.

CHAIRMAN, I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US ONCE AGAIN ON LAWMAKERS.

LOVE THE SHOW.

BEFORE WE GET STARTED, A QUICK DISCLAIMER, THE GEORGIA PUBLIC BROADCASTING IS A STATE AGENCY.

WE ALSO GET SOME FUNDING IN THE STATE'S BUDGET.

LET'S BEGIN WITH ONE WORD REPEATED QUITE A FEW TIMES IN THE HOUSE BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS.

THAT, RESTORE.

THE WORD SUMS UP A LOT OF WHAT'S IN THIS OPENING PLAN.

HOUSE BILL 911 SUPPORTS THE GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION TO PERMANENTLY RESTORE NEARLY $640 MILLION ELIMINATED FROM THE FISCAL 2021 BUDGET, AND CHAIRMAN, YOU SERVED AS A BUDGET CHAIR FOR 11 YEARS.

SO CAN YOU REFLECT ON THE DIFFERENCE THIS YEAR FROM RECENT HISTORY WHEN YOU HAVE HAD TO DO THE BUDGET?

>> IT'S ACTUALLY HARDER.

>> REALLY?

>> HARDER WITH MONEY THAN IT IS WITHOUT.

A LOT MORE FOLKS COMING AND HAVING ASKS AND REQUESTS AND ASKING FOR DIFFERENT THINGS THAN ANY YEAR WHEN WE'RE IN A CUT BUDGET, OF COURSE.

AND I THINK AT THAT POINT, EVERYONE REALIZES, OKAY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANYTHING EXTRA.

BUT I THINK CHAIRMAN TILLARY WILL ECHO THIS AS WELL, THAT A YEAR WITH SOME MONEY IS A LOT HARDER JOB THAN A YEAR WITHOUT.

>> SO WHAT DO YOU SAY, CHAIRMAN?

>> COMPLETELY AGREE.

>> SO ARE PEOPLE COMING TO YOU, LAWMAKERS COMING TO YOU A LOT MORE THIS TIME, YOU THINK?

>> THEY ARE.

AND EVERYONE HAS A GOOD IDEA THAT WORKS FOR THEIR REGION.

WE HAVE TO PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER FOR THE STATE.

>> SO IT'S INTERESTING.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE REVENUE SURPLUS.

$3.7 BILLION AT THE END OF FISCAL 2021.

AND PART BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL COVID-19 RELIEF FUNDING AND MONTHS OF CONTINUING REVENUE GROWTH IN THE STATE, AND I SPOKE TO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JEFF DUNCAN ABOUT IT DURING AN INTERVIEW I DID WITH HIM A FEW WEEKS AGO.

>> CERTAINLY, THERE'S TONS OF MONEY.

THAT'S NOT JUST BECAUSE OF ACCIDENT.

WE BUDGETED VERY CONSERVATIVELY THROUGH THE BEGINNING AND MIDDLE PARTS OF THE PANDEMIC.

NOW HOPEFULLY WE'RE ON THE TAIL END OF IT, WE'LL SEE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY TAKE ITS OWN WEIGHT.

BUT ONE OF THE CAUTIONARY TALES I CONTINUE TO TELL FOLKS ARE, LOOK, THESE UNPRECEDENTED BUDGET SURPLUSES WILL NOT LAST FOREVER.

AND SO LET'S MAKE SURE THROUGH THE BUDGETING PROCESS WE DON'T KATE KIND OF UNFUNDED MANDATES IN THE FUTURE.

LET'S TAKE CARE OF THOSE THAT WE NEED TO IN THIS PERIOD OF TIME, WHERE WE STILL HAVE HAY IN THE BARN.

BUT MAKE SURE WE DON'T COMMIT FUTURE LEGISLATURES INTO VERY, VERY TOUGH, DIFFICULT DECISIONS IF THE ECONOMY SLOWS DOWN, BECAUSE IT WILL.

>> YEAH, SO CHAIRMAN, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT IT SLOWING DOWN, AND YOU KNOW, I GUESS EVENTUALLY IT WILL.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT, AND HOW TOUGH IS IT TO KNOW THAT THAT'S AN EVENTUAL PROSPECT?

>> I'LL TELL YOU, IT'S REALLY HARD WHEN YOU HAVE $4 BILLION IN SURPLUS IN THE BANK AND THE CHAIRMAN AND I HAD TO GO THROUGH THAT, BUT ALSO THE FEBRUARY NUMBERS, REVENUE GROWTH WAS 1% IN FEBRUARY.

WE KNOW THERE'S AN END TO THE SUGAR HIGH, AND AT THAT END, THERE'S GOING TO BE PEOPLE,ETER US IN THESE SEATS OR OTHERS IN THE SEATS THAT HAVE TO BALANCE GEORGIA'S FINANCES.

>> DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> IT WILL BE.

>> IT WILL BE TOUGH.

RIGHT NOW, ENJOY THE SUGAR HIGH.

I LIKE THAT.

HERE'S A LOOK AT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS.

LET'S LOOK AT THEM AND WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING AND THE LARGEST CHUNK, 53%, GOES TO EDUCATION.

MORE THAN $15.9 BILLION, AND THAT INCLUDES K-12, THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA AND THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM OF GEORGE WRU ARB NEXT WITH ABOUT 24% IS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WHICH INCLUDES THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH AND THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DISABILITIES.

PUBLIC SAFETY, 7.5% OF THE BUDGET OR $2.2 BILLION.

FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND 7% GOES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND GENERAL SPENDING ON THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, WHICH INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM THE COURT SYSTEM TO DRIVER'S SERVICES THAT MAKES UP ABOUT 7%.

SO THEN THERE'S LIKE THAT OTHER CATEGORY, SO GENTLEMEN, CHAIRMAN TILLARY, TELL US, IS THE COST TO OPERATE GEORGIA'S GOVERNMENT, IT'S PRETTY LEAN, ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS.

I THINK THAT SLIDE YOU JUST SHOWED IS PROBABLY THE MOST EVIDENT OF GEORGIA'S PRIORITIES.

YOU HAVE HEARD FOR YEARS IF YOU WANT TO KNOW A FAMILY'S PRIORITIES, LOOK AT THEIR POCKETBOOK, THEIR CHECKBOOK.

THAT'S THE CHECKBOOK OF GEORGIA.

THOSE NUMBERS SHOW YOU 77% GO IN TWO LINE ITEMS.

EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE VALUE.

AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE FIGURE HOW WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE REMAINING 23% ON EVERYTHING ELSE IN GEORGIA.

>> YEAH, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT INFORMATION, I MEAN, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS IS EVEN IN TERMS OF THE PEOPLE WE HAVE WORKING IN GOVERNMENT, THAT'S EVEN GONE DOWN SINCE LIKE THE 1980s.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CUT POSITIONS, OF COURSE, TECHNOLOGY HAS HELPED WITH THAT.

>> IT HAS.

WE ARE RUNNING AT THE LOWEST NUMBER OF STATE EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE HAD SINCE WE STARTED DOING PERSONNEL HEAD COUNTS BACK IN THE '80s.

AND OF COURSE, TECHNOLOGY HAS PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN THAT.

ALLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE.

WE'RE COUNTING LESS ON PAPER AND MORE ON ELECTRONIC RECORDS THAT CAN BE HANDED OFF A WHOLE LOT EASIER THAN PAPER COPIES OF A LOT OF THINGS WERE.

SO IT HAS CERTAINLY CHANGED, AND IT ALLOWS US TO DIRECT THOSE DOLLARS INSTEAD OF INTO PERSONNEL INTO SERVICES.

AND I OFTEN SAY AT THE END OF EVERY STATE DOLLAR IS A PERSON.

AND EVERYONE'S ECPCTATION OF THE STATE, IT DOESN'T MATTER ON THE INCOME LEVEL, THEY ALL HAVE A CERTAIN EXPECTATION OF THE STATE, AND IT'S OUR JOB, CHAIRMAN TILLARY AND I'S JOB TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE BALANCE ALL THAT.

>> AND IT'S A TOUGH JOB.

WE THANK YOU FOR IT.

CHAIRMAN ENGLAND, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE LARGEST CHUNK OF THE BUDGET, EDUCATION.

LET'S SPEND TIME ON THAT.

THE HOUSE BUDGET CALLS FOR THE MOST STATE FUNDS EVER APPROPRIATED TO K-12 EDUCATION IN THE STATE.

IT FULLY FUNDS QBE AND RESTORES AUSTERITY CUTS.

YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THE STATE'S 181 SCHOOL DISTRICTS PRETTY HAPPY.

>> I ONLY HOPE SO.

WE HOPE SO.

IT DOES -- WE WERE FIRST ABLE TO FULLY FUND QBE ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, I GUESS IT WAS THE FIRST TIME.

IT FEELS GOOD WHEN YOU CAN KIND OF PUT THAT BEHIND YOU AND GET THAT DONE.

AND IT IS, YOU KNOW, A HUGE PRIORITY FOR THE STATE.

IT'S A HUGE PRIORITY FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND FOR OUR GOVERNOR, SO IT'S A GOOD FEELING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND FULLY FUND THE HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA AS WELL.

>> FOR YOU, YOU CAN REMEMBER WHEN YOU REALLY HAD TO MAKE THOSE BUDGET CUTS BACK IN, WHAT, 2000, 2008, 2009 OR SO.

AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WERE REALLY HURTING.

>> IT WAS A VERY TOUGH TIME AT THAT POINT.

AND YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAVE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB SINCE THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

IT'S KIND OF A THREE-WAY PARTNERSHIP IN EDUCATION FUNDING.

YOU HAVE THE LOCAL PIECE THAT COMES FROM PROPERTY TAX.

YOU HAVE THE STATE PIECE THAT WE DEAL WITH, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE FEDERAL PIECE.

AND TYPICALLY, WHAT WE HAVE ALWAYS SEEN IS THAT WHEN ONE HITS A ROUGH PATCH, THE OTHER ONE CAN KIND OF MAKE UP FOR IT.

WELL, IN '08, '09, '10, AND '11 ALL THREE PARTNERS WERE HITTING A ROUGH PATCH.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAVE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF BUILDING RESERVES THEMSELVES.

IT WAS SOMETHING THEY REALLY DIDN'T FOCUS ON PRIOR TO THAT.

NOW THEY FOCUS ON IT VERY WELL, TO THE POINT THAT MOST OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS -- COMBINED TOGETHER, OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAVE JUST ABOUT THE SAME RESERVE THAT THE STATE OF GEORGIA HAS.

>> I REMEMBER BACK THEN THAT WE SAW WHAT WAS GOING ON AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, BUT IT TOOK A WHILE FOR IT TO KIND OF TRICKLE DOWN TO THE LOCAL LEVEL AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND THEN IT HIT THEM HARD WHEN IT DID.

>> IT DID.

AND WE HAD ABOUT $1.6 BILLION IN RESERVES AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

AND WITHIN JUST A LITTLE OVER A YEAR'S TIME, THAT $1.6 BILLION WAS GONE.

AND WE WERE DOWN TO ABOUT $116 MILLION AT THE POINT THAT THE GOVERNOR TOOK OFFICE, WHICH WAS ENOUGH TO OPERATE THE STATE FOR ABOUT 2 1/2 DAYS.

>> WOW, THAT'S AMAZING TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

CHAIRMAN, I HAVE HEARD SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALREADY TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL ENROLLMENT GOING DOWN BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC RELATED ISSUES.

DOES THE BUDGET TELL US ANYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO THAT?

>> THE FUNDING FORMULA IS BASED ON HEAD COUNT, SO IT WOULD BE REFLECTED.

THERE'S STILL SOME TIME FOR THE SENATE TO MAKE SOME ADDS AND LOOK AT QUALITY MEASURES AND EVEN IN THE K-12 SETTING.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

SO NOW WE HAVE HAD IT COME OUT OF THE HOUSE, NOW THE SENATE IS LOOKING AT IT RIGHT NOW.

THE WHOLE, WHAT'S THAT PROCESS LIKE?

>> IT'S A TON OF FUN.

LONG HOURS.

PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY LISTENING TO SEE IF I'LL GIVE AWAY SOME OF THE SECRETS BEFORE IT ROLLS OUT OF COMMITTEE THURSDAY MORNING OR WEDNESDAY MORNING.

>> OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

WE WON'T HAVE YOU SPILL THE SECRETS HERE.

WE WANTED SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT CHAIRMAN ENGLAND, THE HOUSE BUDGET CALLS FOR MORE THAN $700,000 IN ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR SCHOOL NUTRITION PLANS TO ASSIST SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN KEEPING SCHOOL LUNCHES AFFORDABLE AND I WOULD IMAGINE SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE STRUGGLING LIKE THE REST OF US WITH THE RISING COSTS OF FOOD.

>> THEY ARE, AND WE REALIZE THAT.

AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS HELPED SOME IN THAT ASPECT.

WE'RE TRYING TO HELP SOME IN THAT ASPECT AS WELL.

THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER PIECE IN THE BUDGET THAT IS NOT IN THE EDUCATION PIECE, BUT IT DEALS WITH FOOD BANKS AND TRYING TO GET MONEY OUT TO SOME OF THE FOOD BANKS.

AND SOME OF THE FOOD BANKS OF COURSE PARTICIPATE WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, NOT NECESSARILY FOR IN-SCHOOL NUTRITION BUT FOR OUT OF SCHOOL NUTRITION PIECE, AND THAT WAS SOMETHING GOVERNOR KEMP PUT IN HIS ORIGINAL PACKAGE TO DO THAT AS WELL.

SO UNDERSTANDING THAT THE COST OF GOODS AND WHETHER IT'S COFFEE OR PAPER OR APPLES OR ORANGES OR WHATEVER HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY, WE HAVE TRIED TO OFFSET A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.

>> WE HAVE THE FOOD BANKS BUT WE HAVE GEORGIA GROWN AND ALL OF THAT HAS TO FACTOR INTO THINGS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE LOOKING AT IT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION A BIT.

CHAIRMAN, THERE'S ALSO A MOVE TO GET RID OF THE FEE, A LOT OF PARENTS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS WANT TO GO AWAY, THE INSTITUTIONAL FEE.

IT WAS INSTITUTED IN 2009 DURING THE GREAT RECESSION, BUT WHEN THINGS GOT BETTER, IT DIDN'T GO AWAY.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE GOING AWAY?

>> IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL.

THAT'S A TRIBUTE TO GOVERNOR KEMP AND THE THINGS HE WAS ABLE TO ADD INTO HIS BUDGET BEFORE IT CAME TO THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE.

I THINK HE STRUCK A DEAL WITH THE BOARD OF REGENTS TO MAKE SURE FAMILIES WEREN'T IMPACTED BY THE FEE GOING FORWARD.

APPRECIATE HIS LEADERSHIP THERE.

>> SOME SMALLER SCHOOLS, $170 A SEMESTER.

GEORGIA TECH, $540 A SEMESTER.

SO THIS WAS A LOT OF MONEY THAT PARENTS HAD TO LOOK AT.

SO THAT MIGHT BE GOING AWAY, FINDING A WAY TO FILL THAT MONEY, THAT MONEY COMING IN IN A DIFFERENT WAY FOR NOW.

OKAY.

CHAIRMAN ENGLAND, THERE ARE PRIORITIES IN SEVERAL AREAS TO EXPAND SOME OF THE PROFESSIONS AND MAKE SOME MORE APPEALING IN AREAS WHERE THERE'S BEEN TURNOVER, AND THE HOUSE BUDGET HAD $1.7 MILLION AS PART OF A PACKAGE FOR CANCELING LOANS FOR THOSE WHO WORK LOCALLY FOR THE STATE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MEDICAL EXAMINERS AT THE GBI.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

>> WELL, WE'RE SEEING AN INCREDIBLE TURNOVER WITHIN THE STATE FORCES, BUT ALSO ON A LOCAL LEVEL AS WELL.

AS IT RELATES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND IN PARTICULAR, THE GBI AND DIRECTOR REYNOLDS TRYING TO KEEP SOME FORENSIC EXAMINERS ON STAFF.

AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH HIM, CHAIRMAN TILLARY AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH HIM FOR ABOUT A YEAR, ACTUALLY A YEAR AND A HALF, ON TRYING TO GET MORE FORENSIC EXAMINERS IN PLACE AROUND THE STATE.

AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO SEE THAT WE'RE JUST NOT HAVING A WHOLE LOT OF LUCK THERE.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO UP THE ANTE THERE TO ALLOW HIM TO SWEETEN THE PACKAGE, SO TO SPEAK, TO SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO GET THEM ONBOARDED SO THAT WHEN A BODY DOES COME TO THE CRIME LAB FOR AN AUTOPSY, IT'S NOT THERE FOR SIX WEEKS.

YOU CAN GET A TURNAROUND IN A FEW DAYS.

SO THAT THE FAMILIES CAN GET CLOSURE, SO LAW ENFORCEMENT KNOWS IF THEY HAVE SOMETHING THEY NEED TO GO FORWARD AND PROSECUTE.

SO JUST TRYING TO SPEED THAT PROCESS UP.

AND IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A TOUGH ROAD TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>> THE LOAN FORGIVENESS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THOSE IN SCHOOL, KNOWING IF THEY GO INTO THE PROFESSION, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR LOAN FORGIVEN.

WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK MORE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

LET'S TAKE A BREAK.

WHEN WE COME BACK, LET'S TALK ABOUT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET FROM THE MASSIVE BILL TO OVERHAUL GEORGIA'S MENTAL HEALTH DELIVERY SYSTEM.

YOU'RE WATCHING LAWMAKERS ON GPB.

>> SIGMA'S MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH, WELLBEING, AND PEACE OF MIND OF THOSE WE SERVE.

CIGNA.COM TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL BEING.

>> WITH OVER 80 YEARS OF HELPING EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE, AFTER ALL, AG IS GEORGIA'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY.

FOOD AND FIBER PRODUCTION REPRESENTS OVER $74 BILLION IN OUTPUT OF GEORGIA'S STRONG ECONOMY.

THE GEORGIA FARM BUREAU LEGISLATIVE TEAM WORKS TO REPRESENT PRODUCERS ACROSS GEORGIA AT THE STATE CAPITOL DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU, THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>> GEORGIA HUMANITIES, CONNECTING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS GEORGIA TO ENCOURAGE CONVERSATION, EDUCATION, AND UNDERSTANDING.

FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.GEORGIAHUMANITIES.ORG.

>> WE ARE THE SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER.

AT SELC, WE FOUGHT ONLY TAKE ON THE TOUGHEST ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES, WE WIN.

FORCING THE REMOVAL OF MORE THAN 250 MILLION TONS OF TOXIC COAL ASH, DEFEATING REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO BRING OFFSHORE DRILLING TO OUR COAST, AND SECURING CLEAN AIR AND WATER PROTECTIONS FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR REGION.

YOUR MOST POWERFUL ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDER IS ROOTED RIGHT HERE IN THE SOUTH.

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A PLAN.

JUST NEVER REALLY PLANNED HOW TO DO THIS.

TODAY I'M ANNOUNCING I WILL NOT BE SEEKING RE-ELECTION FOR ANOTHER TERM.

YOU KNOW, WITH AGE COMES WISDOM, TOO.

AND AS A YOUNG MAN, I ALWAYS HAD A PLAN.

I HAD TO PLAN TO BE HERE ONE DAY.

LORD CONSENTED, AND I FEEL LIKE THE LORD IS TELLING ME NOW IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON.

>> THAT FROM ONE OF OUR GUESTS TONIGHT, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, TERRY ENGLAND.

WELCOME BACK TO LAWMAKERS FOR OUR ONE-HOUR-LONG BUDGET SHOW.

ALSO WITH US, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, BLAKE TILLARY.

ON FEBRUARY 17th, DAY 18 OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, CHAIRMAN ENGLAND MADE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT NOT RUNNING AGAIN, AND IT SHOCKED A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THE OUT' POURING OF AFFECTION WAS SO GREAT, THE SPEAKER HAD TO TAKE A BREAK, AND CHAIRMAN ENGLAND, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT DAY.

>> IT WAS KIND OF TOUGH.

BUT IT WAS A LONG TIME IN COMING.

AND HAVING SERVED IN THE HOUSE NOW FOR 18 YEARS AND THAT'S ABOUT 10 OR 12 YEARS MORE THAN I EVER DREAMED IT WOULD BE.

SO IT WAS TOUGH TO GET UP THERE THAT DAY.

BUT I FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO DO IT IN THE END TO LET MY FOLKS BACK HOME I WOULDN'T BE RUNNING AGAIN SO THEY WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIZE UP MY REPLACEMENT AND DIDN'T FEEL LIKE I WANTED TO GO TO THE LAST DAY AND LET THEM KNOW AT THE LAST SECOND.

I WANTED TO BE FAIR TO THEM.

AND THEY HAVE BEEN FAIR TO ME.

>> SO REALLY, 10 OR 12 YEARS MORE THAN YOU THOUGHT YOU WOULD SPEND.

IT WAS TIME TO LEAVE.

WELL, I SPOKE TO SPEAKER RAHALSTON ABOUT YOU RECENTLY, AND HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

>> TERRY ENGLAND IS FIRST OF ALL IS MY DEAR, DEAR FRIEND, AND HAS BEEN FOR THE TIME WE HAVE BEEN HERE TOGETHER.

AND SO THAT ONE'S GOING TO HURT ON A PERSONAL LEVEL AS WELL AS A LEGISLATIVE LEVEL.

BUT NOBODY WORKS HARDER THAN TERRY ENGLAND.

NOBODY.

HE PUTS IN, HE IS HERE THROUGH THE YEAR, DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

AND HE'S WORKING WITH HIS BUDGET PEOPLE AND STAYING ON TOP OF THEIR BUDGET ISSUES THAT KIND OF PERCOLATE UP DURING THE SUMMER, THE FALL.

AND HE PUTS IN THE WORK.

HE'S HONEST.

I CAN TRUST TERRY ENGLAND TO TELL ME THE TRUTH.

AND THAT'S IMPORTANT IN AN APPROPRIATIONS CHAIRMAN.

SO, YOU KNOW, HE'S VERY, VERY HONEST.

AND HE CARES ABOUT PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, HE HAS A HEART FOR TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE.

AND I LOVE THAT ABOUT HIM.

SO HE'S GOING TO BE A BIG LOSS.

THERE'S NO QUESTION.

HE'S GOING TO BE TOUGH TO REPLACE.

AND I HAVE ALREADY HAD PEOPLE COMING TO ME WANTING TO REPLACE HIM NEXT YEAR.

I SAID, YOU HAVE TO GIVE ME TIME TO WORK THROUGH THIS A LITTLE BIT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S TOO EARLY.

>> SO CHAIRMAN ENGLAND, YOU WERE ELECTED TO THE HOUSE IN 2004.

AND THAT WAS TWO YEARS AFTER SPEAKER ROLLSTON, SO I WOULD IMAGINE THAT HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THIS FRIENDSHIP YOU GUYS HAVE FORGED.

>> WE BECAME FRIENDS EARLY ON.

I REMEMBER, I THINK IT WAS MY FIRST YEAR.

HE WAS CHAIRMAN RAHALSTON AT THAT POINT, AND HE HAD STEPPED OUTSIDE TO MEET WITH SOMEONE.

HE CAME BACK IN, HE SAYS, WELL, I UNDERSTAND YOU KNOW JOHNNY BARNES.

I SAID, YES, SIR, I DO.

HE'S VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE.

HE SAID, WELL, JOHN BARNES HAPPENED TO BE HIS HIGH SCHOOL AGRICULTURE TEACHER.

AND ME AND MR. BARNES HAD BEEN LONG TIME FRIENDS AS WELL.

AND HE SAID ANYBODY THAT JOHNNY BARNES THINKS AS MUCH OF AS HE DOES OF YOU, YOU'RE PRETTY GOOD FOLKS.

WE JUST STARTED BUILDING ON THAT.

AND HAVE, AND WE HAVE BEEN ON THE MOUNTAINTOP TOGETHER AND BEEN IN THE VALLEY TOGETHER AS WELL.

>> YEAH, BEEN QUITE A FEW YEARS TOGETHER.

HE HAD WONDERFUL THINGS TO SAY ABOUT YOU.

CHAIRMAN TILLARY, YOU'RE NEW TO THE BUDGET PROCESS.

YOU TOOK OVER AFTER THE SUDDEN DEATH OF CHAIRMAN JACK HILL, WHO DIED SUDDENLY IN 2020.

I HAVE TO ASK YOU WHAT IT'S BEEN LIKE WORKING WITH CHAIRMAN ENGLAND.

>> ONE, IT'S GONE REALLY FAST.

HARD TO BELIEVE BY THE TIME WE'RE DONE, IT WILL BE FIVE BUDGETS.

THREE GENERAL AND TWO AMENDED.

IT'S JUST SO HARD TO FATHOM IT'S GONE THAT FAST TO BEGIN WITH.

AND THEN, HE'S BEEN SUCH A ROCK.

NOT ONLY TO THE HOUSE BUT TO THE STATE AS A WHOLE.

AND HE'S GOING TO BE SOMEONE THAT WHILE HE MAY NOT PHYSICALLY BE IN THE BUILDING, HIS FINGERPRINTS WILL BE HERE FOR A LONG TIME.

>> WE'LL LET YOU BOTH SAY A FEW MORE WORDS ABOUT YOUR STAFF AND EVERYBODY AT THE END OF THE SHOW, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GOT THAT IN.

WE GET RUSHED AT THE END.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BIGGEST BIPARTISAN WORK IN THIS SESSION, THE EFFORT TO GET GEORGIA OUT OF THE BASEMENT NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE STATES WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

THIS IS THE SPEAKER'S MAJOR PUSH FOR THE SESSION, AND THE HOUSE BILL 1013 IS MASSIVE AND COMES WITH MAJOR BUDGET NEEDS.

IT'S $30 MILLION, MUCH OF IT PASSED ON TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

SO LET'S LOOK AT IT A LITTLE BIT.

THE HOUSE BUDGET EXPANDS ACCOUNTABILITY COURTS, SUICIDE PREVENTION SUPPORT, AND THE AVAILABILITY OF CRISIS BEDS.

ON THE WORK FORCE SIDE, IT INCREASES THE SALARIES OF STATE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL NURSES AND HEALTH AIDES.

THERE'S ALSO FUNDS FOR AN ADDITIONAL 20-BED JAIL BASED COMPETENCY RESTORATION PROGRAM PILOT.

SO CHAIRMAN ENGLAND, CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT OF ALL OF THAT?

IT'S A LOT.

I KNOW.

>> IT IS A LOT, AND A LOT OF MOVING PARTS INTO THAT.

AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME THAT BLEEDS OVER INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THERE'S A LOT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

A LOT OF IT COMES OUT OF A COMMISSION THAT MET FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

ONE OF OUR FORMER COLLEAGUES, KEVIN TANNER, HAD BEEN THE CHAIR OF THAT, AND A LOT -- THEY LOOKED AT EVERY ASPECT POSSIBLE IN MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AND WE HAVE HEARD FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR YEARS THAT THERE ARE ISSUES THAT THEY CAN'T FIND PLACEMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND READ SOMETHING OVER THE WEEKEND THAT WHERE WHEN SURVEYED, THE SHERIFFS AROUND THE STATE SAY OVER 50% OF THEIR CALLS ARE NOT DEALING WITH SOMEONE BREAKING THE LAW.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING TO DO WITH SOMEONE IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

AND YOU KNOW, THIS HAS KIND OF BEEN BUILDING.

AND GEORGIA IS NOT UNIQUE IN THAT EITHER.

WE'RE SEEING THAT AND OUR COLLEAGUES IN OTHER STATES HAVE SEEN AND BEEN DEALING WITH SOME OF THE SAME ISSUES.

IT'S A WIDE REACHING PACKAGE.

THE BILL ITSELF IS A WIDE REACHING PACKAGE, BUT ALSO THE MOVES WE MADE IN THE BUDGET ARE VERY WIDE REACHING AS WELL.

TRYING TO GET THE SERVICES IN PLACE AND PART OF THAT IS THE WORKFORCE PIECE.

AND MAKING SURE THERE ARE ENOUGH PEOPLE THERE THAT CAN DELIVER THE SERVICES FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN NEED.

>> AGAIN, A CHANCE FOR FORGIVABLE LOAN FOR PEOPLE WHO GO INTO THE FIELD.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT PART OF IT?

>> WELL, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN KIND OF KNOCKING BACK AND FORTH TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IS HOW DO YOU GET MORE YOUNG PEOPLE INTERESTED IN GOING INTO THAT FIELD?

AND SO WE ACTUALLY MADE A MOVE IN THE AMENDED BUDGET TO PUT $10 MILLION IN TO THE PROGRAM, STUDENT FINANCE, TO GO AHEAD SO THE KIDS THAT ARE GETTING READY TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL THIS YEAR, THOSE KIDS THAT ARE ALREADY PURSUING ONE OF THESE FIELDS IN COLLEGE, WILL KNOW THAT THERE'S SOMETHING THERE THAT IF THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE DECISION WHICH PATHWAY TO TAKE, THEY CAN LOOK AND SAY OKAY, MY LOANS WILL BE FORGIVEN IF I GO THAT DIRECTION VERSUS SOMETHING ELSE.

AND TRYING TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO LURE THEM INTO THAT FIELD BECAUSE WE HAVE A HUGE DEFICIT IN THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE TRAINED TO HELP TREAT PEOPLE.

>> YEAH, REALLY HIGH TURNOVER.

BUT KNOWING THAT YOU GO INTO THAT FIELD, THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME OF THAT COLLEGE DEBT THAT EVERYBODY DEALS WITH.

>> IN GENERAL, THOSE ARE NOT VARHIGH PAYING JOBS.

IT'S PART OF THAT PROFESSION.

IA YOU DON'T KNOW INTO IT TO GET RICH.

YOU GO IN TO HELP PEOPLE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU HAVE TO PAY OFF THE STUDENT LOAN, BUY GROCERIES, RAISE A FAMILY, SO WE HAVE TO TRY TO PUT ALL THOSE PIECES TOGETHER TO MAKE IT WORK.

>> I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE ACCOUNTABILITY COURTS.

BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

CHAIRMAN TILLARY, WHAT ARE THEY AND WHAT DO THEY DO?

>> THEY STARTED REALLY UNDER GOVERNOR DIEHL AND HIS CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM PACKAGE.

THEY CONTINUED UNDER GOVERNOR KEMP.

IT'S AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT SOMETIMES THROWING MONEY OR THE OLD SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE WORKED BEFORE MAYBE AREN'T THE BEST WAYS TO GET THE RESULTS WE NEED NOW.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE SENATE CONTINUE THAT SAME TREND NOT ONLY ON THE ACCOUNTABLE COURTS BUT IN OTHER AREAS OF THE BUDGET, LOOKING AT THE K-12 SITUATION, WE HAVE DONE IT TOGETHER WITH THE HOUSE ON SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES, AND WE MAY EVEN JUMP INTO COMMUNITY SERVICE BOARDS AND TRY TO AGAIN INCENTIVIZE QUALITY OUTCOMES RATHER THAN JUST INPUTS.

>> SO THE FACT THAT WORKFORCE ISSUES, PART OF THIS BUDGET, WORKFORCE ISSUES ARE A BIG PART OF THE BUDGET, MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH HIGH TURNOVER IN A LOT OF AREAS, RIGHT?

>> WE WERE.

PARTICULARLY IN DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE CAME TOGETHER TO MAKE A SPECIAL ADD ON TOP OF THAT ADDITION THE GOVERNOR HAD ALREADY PUT THERE JUST FOR PEOPLE, FOR PEOPLE RESOURCES, HUMAN RESOURCES.

AND THERE WILL BE OTHER PLACES, PARTICULARLY IN NURSING CATEGORIES, THAT I'M SURE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND DO THAT ON IN THE AMENDED -- IN THE GENERAL, SORRY.

>> SO I'M SURE THAT JUST LIKE PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T THINK ABOUT IT, JUST LIKE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IN THE STATE, PEOPLE WERE LEAVING JOBS.

AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, PANDEMIC RELATED REASONS.

NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REASONS.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN A LOT OF AREAS.

YOU REALLY -- THERE'S A REAL PUSH IN THIS BUDGET FOR PEOPLE GETTING TO GET RAISES, BONUSES, THAT KIND OF THING, RIGHT?

>> AND CHAIRMAN TILLERY ALLUDED, THE JUVENILE JUSTICE WAS ELATED TO SAY THE TURNOVER RATE WENT DOWN 7%, FROM 97% TO 90% A YEAR.

90% TURNOVER.

HE WAS HAPPY -- >> 90%.

>> HE WAS HAPPY TO GET A 7% REDUCTION.

SO, YOU KNOW, AS CHAIRMAN ALLUDED TO, IN THE AMENDED BUDGET WE MADE A MOVE THERE.

WE CARRIED FORWARD INTO THE BIG BUDGET.

AND YOU KNOW, TO HEAR THE COMMISSIONERS AND AGENCY HEADS TALK ABOUT 40% AND 50% TURNOVER IS NOTHING UNUSUAL.

AND WE'RE SEEING THE SAME THING IN PRIVATE INDUSTRY AS WELL.

JUST AS YOU ALLUDED TO, IN THE PANDEMIC, A LOT OF -- PEOPLE WERE, THE GREAT RESIGNATION, I THINK I HEARD IT CALLED ON THE RADIO THE OTHER DAY.

BUT A LOT OF FOLKS JUST KIND OF RE-EVALUATING WHAT THEY'RE DOING, AND IT'S MADE IT TOUGH ON FOLKS THAT WHETHER TO STAY IN PRIVATE INDUSTRY AND KEEP QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.

>> YOU REALLY HAD TO LOOK AT THAT WHEN IT CAME TO THIS BUDGET.

DO YOU THINK THE NEWS THAT THIS BUDGET IS GOING TO INCLUDE THE $5,000 MORE, YOU KNOW, FOR STATE EMPLOYEES, EVEN DOES JUST THAT NEWS COMING OUT IS HELPING ALREADY?

>> WHAT WE HAVE HEARD SO FAR IS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE CHANGED THEIR MINDS ABOUT LEAVING AND ARE WILLING TO STAY.

>> I CAN'T IMAGINE 90% TURNOVER AND THEN YOU HAVE TO START TRAINING ALL OVER AGAIN, AND THAT'S A BIG COST WHEN IT COMES TO THAT.

OKAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK.

WHEN WE COME BACK, MUCH MORE ON THE BUDGET IN THIS HOUR-LONG SPECIAL.

YOU'RE WATCHING LAWMAKERS ON GPB.

>> CIGNA IS A PROUD PARTNER OF GEORGIA PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND GEORGIA LAWMAKERS.

CIGNA'S MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH, WELLBEING, AND PEACE OF MIND OF THOSE WE SERVE.

LEARN HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR EMPLOYEES' PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING.

>> LAWMAKERS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

WITH OVER 80 YEARS OF HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE.

FOOD AND FIBER PRODUCTION REPRESENTS OVER $74 BILLION IN OUTPUT OF GEORGIA'S STRONG ECONOMY.

THE GEORGIA FARM BUREAU LEGISLATIVE TEAM WORKS TO REPRESENT PRODUCERS ACROSS GEORGIA AT THE STATE CAPITOL DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU, THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>> GEORGIA HUMANITIES CONNECTING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS GEORGIA TO ENCOURAGE CONVERSATION, EDUCATION, AND UNDERSTANDING.

FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.GEORGIAHUMANITIES.ORG.

>> WE ARE THE SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER.

AT SELC, WE NOT ONLY TAKE ON THE TOUGHEST ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES, WE WIN.

FORCING THE REMOVAL OF MORE THAN 250 MILLION TONS OF TOXIC COAL ASH, DEFEATING REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO BRING OFFSHORE DRILLING TO OUR COAST, AND SECURING CLEAN AIR AND WATER PROTECTIONS FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR REGION.

YOUR MOST POWERFUL ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDER IS ROOTED RIGHT HERE IN THE SOUTH.

>>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE.

GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

>> THAT'S HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR TERRY ENGLAND ON FEBRUARY 17th WHEN HE FINISHED HIS ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE WOULD NOT SEEK ANOTHER TERM.

HE RECEIVED A PROLONGED STANDING OVATION OF ABOUT 45 SECONDS.

I COUNTED, FROM HIS COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE.

THE RESPONSE WAS SO OVERWHELMING THAT AFTERWARDS, THE SPEAKER CALLED FOR A BREAK IN THE SESSION THAT DAY.

SO THAT THE HOUSE SPEAKERS COULD TALK TO HIM, AND THERE YOU SEE THEM HUGGING.

THERE WERE A LOT OF HUGS THAT DAY, WEREN'T THERE?

YEAH.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE ARE -- IT'S THE SESSION NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE QUITE DIFFERENT.

SO BECAUSE YOU'LL BE GONE AND OTHERS WHO ARE HARD WORKING, BELOVED, SOME RUNNING FOR HIGHER OFFICE.

SOME MOVING ON TO OTHER THINGS.

SO ARE YOU FEELING A LITTLE NOSTALGIC AT THIS POINT AT ALL?

ARE YOU STILL WORKING TOO HARD?

>> THERE'S BITS AND PIECES THAT YOU GET NOSTALGIC ABOUT.

AND THEN I GET TO THINKING ABOUT NEXT YEAR, I'LL BE SITTING AT THE HOUSE WATCHING THIS ON TV INSTEAD OF BEING HERE.

I MEAN, THERE IS -- YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN A DREAM OF MINE TO BE IN THE HOUSE SINCE THE FIFTH GRADE.

AND JUST TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS HAS BEEN A KID'S DREAM COME TRUE.

>> SO FIFTH GRADE, YOU REALLY KNEW THAT THIS WAS WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO?

>> I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT BEING AN APPROPRIATIONS CHAIRMAN.

I KNEW AT THAT POINT I WANTED TO BE IN THE HOUSE.

FIFTH GRADE FIELD TRIP TO THE CAPITOL, AND WALKED INTO THE CHAMBER AND THERE WAS JUST SOMETHING ABOUT IT THAT FELT RIGHT.

>> WERE YOU EVER A PAGE?

YOU WEREN'T A PAGE, JUST KNEW THAT WAS IT.

SO THERE ARE FIFTH GRADERS OUT THERE WHO ARE LOOKING UP TO YOU AND THINKING ABOUT -- >> I WANT TODAY BE A FIREMAN AND AN ASTRONAUT AND ALL THAT TOO.

>> SO AS WE WELCOME EVERYBODY BACK TO LAWMAKERS, WE JUST THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY FITTING TO TALK ABOUT THIS, WHILE WE, YOU KNOW, WHILE YOU'RE HERE.

IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO GET YOUR FLOWERS WHILE YOU'RE STILL AROUND FOR US TO GIVE THEM.

SO ONCE AGAIN, CHAIRMAN ENGLAND, TO CHAIRMAN TILLARY WITH US, AND DESPITE ALL THE GIVE AND TAKE AT THE CAPITOL, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGET ISSUES, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING ON THAT MONEY.

THERE ARE PEOPLE AT THE END OF ALL THAT MONEY WE TALK ABOUT.

WITH THAT, LET'S DIG INTO ANOTHER MONEY ISSUE.

AND IT'S A BIG ONE THIS YEAR.

WE CAME INTO IT, TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

CHAIRMAN TILLARY, WE STARTED THE SESSION HEARING A LOT ABOUT CRIME, PUBLIC SAFETY WAS EMPHASIZED IN THE CRIME RATES AND THE REVENUE SURPLUS IS CERTAINLY GOING TO HELP, ISN'T IT?

>> IT WILL.

I THINK THE HOUSE HAD VARIOUS POSITIONS THEY ADDED, IF I COUNT THEM UP, MAYBE 20 TO 30 POSITIONS THEY ADDED IPTHEIR BUDGET.

I'M SURE THE SENATE WILL HAVE SOME AS WELL.

REALIZING IF PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE, THEY'RE NOT GOING OUT TO SHOP, THEY'RE NOT DOING MUCH OF ANYTHING.

WE HEARD THAT FROM FAMILIES PRETTY CLEARLY.

>> CHAIRMAN, THE GBI IS GETTING $11.9 MILLION FOR 67 POSITIONS.

AMONG THEM, 18 SCIENTISTS AND 7 CRIME LAB TECHNICIANS.

16 NEW POSITIONS IN THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE.

11 DEATH INVESTIGATOR SPECIALISTS.

15 SPECIAL AGENTS.

SIX CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE ANALYSTS.

THAT'S A LOT OF NEW POSITIONS.

>> IT IS.

>> BUT NECESSARY, AS WE TALKED ABOUT THIS TURNOVER AND -- BUT MORE THAN THAT, RIGHT?

>> IT IS.

AND A LOT OF IT IS JUST A BACKLOG OF CASES THAT WHETHER IT'S SCIENTIFIC WORK OR DEATH INVESTIGATIONS THAT NEED TO BE DONE, KIND OF GOING BACK TO OUR EARLIER COMMENTS ABOUT FAMILIES NEED TO BE ABLE TO MOVE ON AND GET CLOSURE IF THEY LOST A LOVED ONE.

DURING THE PANDEMIC, A LOT OF THINGS GOT PUT ON HOLD.

AND A LOT OF COURT CASES GOT PUT ON HOLD.

THERE'S A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO THERE.

WITH THAT COMES ALL OF THE INVESTIGATION SIDE THAT GOES WITH THOSE CASES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GETTING TAKEN CARE OF AND THAT WE'RE ADJUDICATING THESE CASES IN A TIMELY MANNER BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF WHAT OUR COUNTRY IS BASED ON, WHAT OUR CONSTITUTION IS BASED ON.

GOOD YOU'RE ACCUSED, YOU GET A SPEEDY TRIAL, AND YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THAT CHANCE TO PROVE YOUR INNOCENCE AS WELL.

A LOT OF THAT INNOCENCE, MANY TIMES, GETS PROVEN BY THE EVIDENCE.

BY THE SCIENCE THAT IS DONE, AND GBI HERE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA IS THE BEST I HAVE EVER SEEN AT DOING WHAT THEY DO.

AND THEY'RE KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AS BEING THE BEST.

AND THEY TRULY ARE.

>> THERE'S A LOT FOR THE GBI IN THE HOUSE BUDGET, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> THAT WAS AN AREA, YOU KNOW, YOU TALK ABOUT THE BACKLOG OF CASES.

IN ORDER TO DO THAT SPEEDING THEM UP, YOU HAD TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE, RIGHT?

>> GOT TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE.

WE ALSO DID A SMALL ADD TO ALLOW THEM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT COULD BE FARMED OUT TO OTHER LABS TO DO, ALLOW THEM TO DO SOME OF THAT.

THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THAT ALONG THROUGH THE YEARS BUT ALLOWING THEM TO SPEED IT UP AS WELL.

JUST TRYING TO GET THE THROUGHPUT THERE, BECAUSE EVEN PRE-PANDEMIC, THERE WAS BECOMING A BACKLOG JUST BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE, MORE THINGS HAPPENING IN THE STATE, AND WE DID NOT REALLY BOLSTER THE GBI AND THE INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES PIECE THAT MUCH OVER THE YEARS.

BUT WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF 11 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE STATE NOW.

AND IT TAKES MORE FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> SO PART OF IT WILL BE GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT THERE THAT THESE JOBS ARE AVAILABLE, WON'T IT BE?

>> IT WILL BE.

>> THAT'S NOT YOUR PART OF THE JOB.

YOU'RE PROBABLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

>> A LOT OF FOLKS LOOK AT THE NUMBERS ON THE PIECE OF PAPER AND THEY BECOME AWARE OF IT PRETTY QUICK.

>> YOU'RE COMPETING WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

IS THAT THE TOUGHEST PART OF IT?

>> YOU DO COMPETE SOME WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN SOME OF THIS, BUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN MORE ON THE GBI LEVEL, ON THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, STATE TROOPERS, YOU'RE COMPETING MORE WITH LOCALITIES.

AND YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE LOCALITIES THAT CAN OFFER MAYBE BETTER PAY BUT NOT NECESSARILY BETTER BENEFITS, WE HAVE TO STILL BE COMPETITIVE ON THE PAY SIDE EVEN THOUGH THE BENEFITS MAY BE A LITTLE BETTER.

OUR COMPETITION IN LAW ENFORCEMENT REALLY BECOMES LOCALITIES, COUNTIES AND CITIES, AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING THERE LOCALLY.

SO THAT KIND OF BECOMES OUR MAIN COMPETITION FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

>> YEAH, THINKING OF THE BENEFITS.

HOW MUCH ARE WE GOING TO SEE MORE FOR BENEFITS, IN BENEFITS PACKAGES?

>> YOU HAVE TO DO A FRIENDS RATE MULTIPLIER EVERY TIME YOU DO AN ADD.

ANY TIME YOU SEE AN INCREASE IN SALARY, THERE'S A MULTIPLIER RATE ON THAT.

>> EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS?

FRINGE RATE MULTIPLIER.

I'M CONFUSED.

>> YOU'RE PROBABLY ASKING A QUESTION A LOT OF FOLK WATCHING ARE ASKING.

YOU HAVE TO PAY THE BENEFITS ON THAT EMPLOYEE.

SO JUST LIKE THEY DO IN PUBLIC SECTOR, SO WHETHER OR NOT IT'S RETIREMENT OR STATE HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN, THAT GOES, ABOUT 1.7%?

1.7 MULTIPLIER NOW.

>> YOU HAD TO LOOK AT THAT, SO INSURANCE RATES WILL GO UP AND MAKING SURE PREMIUMS ARE AFFORDABLE TO PEOPLE, ALL OF THAT KIND OF THING.

>> AND WE HAVE AN EMPLOYER SHARE AND AN EMPLOYEE SHARE.

SO THE BIG PART OF WHAT WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IS THE EMPLOYER SHARE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO BUDGET FOR.

SO JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, IT HAS CONTINUED TO GO UP OVER THE YEARS.

SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE IT WHEN WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO PAY SOMEONE $100,000 A YEAR, YOU HAVE TO REALIZE ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS ARE KIND OF BACKING THAT NUMBER UP AS WELL.

>> THEN ADD 60% TO 70% FOR THEIR BENEFIT SAID.

>> OH, MAN.

>> EXPENSIVE TO HIRE PEOPLE.

>> AND THE CHALLENGE WILL BE HOPING THAT YOU CAN KEEP THIS UP YEAR AFTER YEAR WITH THIS.

AND YOU'LL BE HERE FOR THAT.

>> THAT'S GOING BACK TO THE FIRST THING FOR THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S COMMENT.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT HE WAS SAYING, WE KNOW WE'RE IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE PLENTY THANKS TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA BUT WE HAVE TO BE PRUDENT NOT TO PUT OURSELVES IN A POSITION THAT AS WE SEE THE CLIFF COMING ON THE EDGE WITH 11% INFLATION AMONG OTHER THINGS, SOME TAX CUT BILL THAT WE WANT TO DO FOR CITIZENS, WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WE DON'T SPEND OURSELVES INTO A POSITION WHERE WE CAN'T.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN THEY THINK OF THOSE THINGS THEY THINK ABOUT THE RAINY DAY FUND.

IT'S GOOD RIGHT NOW.

TALK ABOUT THAT AND WHY PEOPLE SHOULDN'T COUNT ON THAT.

>> IT IS GREAT RIGHT NOW.

ROUGHLY, AS YOU SAID EARLIER, ABOUT $4 BILLION.

AS THE CHAIRMAN TOLD YOU BEFORE, WHEN THEY HIT THAT CRISIS IN 2008 AND WENT FROM $1.8 BILLION DOWN TO $116 MILLION, THAT'S ETCHED IN THE MINDS OF MOST LEGISLATORS WHO WERE THERE AND EVEN THOSE OF US WHO WEREN'T.

YOU HAVE $4 BILLION, BUT IF YOU HAVE A $30 BILLION BUDGET, YOU HAVE JUST OVER 10% TO 12% IN THE RAINY DAY FUND.

THAT'S GET YOU FOR A COUPLE MONTH.

WHAT DO YOU DO THE REMAINING TEN MONTHS?

STATE EMPLOYEE STILL WANT TO BE PAID.

>> YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT TWO DAYS.

>> $116 MILLION AT THAT POINT WAS 2 1/2 DAYS OF OPERATING.

OUR BURN RATE RIGHT NOW IS A LITTLE OVER $2 BILLION -- WELL, ABOUT $2.5 BILLION A MONTH.

SO IT DOESN'T TAKE A WHOLE LOT OF TIME TO GO THROUGH THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

AND THOSE FUNDS ARE ONE-TIME FUNDS.

IT'S NOT LIKE THEY REGENERATE OR THAT IT AUTOMATICALLY GOES BACK INTO IT.

THAT'S BEEN FROM VERY PRUDENT BUDGETING FROM GOVERNORS, FROM THE ACTION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THROUGH THE YEARS TO GET BACK TO THAT POINT.

AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL SHY OF WHAT NORMAL BUSINESS CONSIDERS A PRUDENT AMOUNT TO HAVE IN RESERVES.

ABOUT SIX MONTHS OPERATING IS WHAT BUSINESS SCHOOLS TELL YOU YOU NEED TO HAVE SET ASIDE.

WE'RE STILL VERY SHY OF BEING ANYWHERE NEAR THAT.

>> YOU'RE GOING TO KIND OF MISS THIS INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE THAT GOES BACK A WHILE, WON'T YOU?

THAT REMEMBERS WHEN THE YEARS THINGS WERE SO LEAN.

>> YOU'RE SEEING THAT WHEN WE'RE LOSING CHAIRMAN ENGLAND AND ALSO ON OUR SIDE, SENATOR MULLIS WAS THE ONLY REPUBLICAN WHO SERVED IN THE MINORITY, SO THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF INSTITUTIONAL WISDOM LEAVING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CHAMBER THIS YEAR.

>> OH, BOY.

NOW I WANT TO GET INTO CORRECTIONS A LITTLE BIT.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.

IN THE HOUSE BUDGET, CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS INCLUDING THOSE WHO WORK IN THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM, ARE GETTING $2,000 AND THEN ABOVE THAT, $5,000 COST OF LIVING INCREASE.

SO TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE ACT WE MOVED THE AMENDED BUDGET TO THE SENATE, CHAIRMAN TILLARY AND HIS FOLKS CAME WITH THAT WE AGREED TO.

WE CARIED IT FORWARD INTO THE BIG BUDGET.

IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN RIGHT FOR US TO NOT HAVE IT IN THERE AND SEND IT OVER TO THEM AND FOLKS WONDERING, AM I GOING TO GET IT OR NOT?

ADDING THAT ADDITIONAL $2,000 ONTO THE $5,000, AND AGAIN, THESE ARE POSITIONS THAT ARE 50% TO 90% TURNOVER RATES THAT WE HAVE TO STEM THAT TIDE.

>> SO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING THIS RECOGNIZE THIS IS COMING.

SO THAT HELPS YOU A LOT ON ALL OF THAT.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE TURNOVER RATE.

YOU KNOW, YOU KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT.

IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE'RE JUST GOING -- YOU JUST HAVE TO WORK THROUGH, RIGHT?

MAYBE NEXT YEAR WE'RE NOT STILL TALKING ABOUT IT.

>> BECAUSE GEORGIA STAYED OPEN, GEORGIA'S ECONOMY IS BOOMING STILL.

YOU'RE SEEING THAT EMPLOYERS ARE STILL HIRING, AND AS LONG AS THEY'RE LOOKING FOR WORKERS, THEY'RE GOING TO INCREASE THEIR WAGES AND IT'S GOING TO PUT PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENT WORKERS AS WELL.

WE HAVE TO MEET THAT BURDEN WHERE WE CAN.

>> WHAT ARE YOU PROUDEST ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR BILL?

THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET BILL?

>> I THINK WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO FOR OUR PEOPLE, THE EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA, THE HELP THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO GIVE THEM, NOT ONLY FROM THE GOVERNOR'S ORIGINAL $5,000 PIECE, BUT THE OTHER ADDS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO.

AND TRULY, THE PEOPLE ARE WHAT MAKE GOVERNMENT WORK.

AND STATE EMPLOYEES GET A BAD RAP A LOT OF TIMES, BUT I TELL YOU, I HAVE TRAVELED THE STATE FROM CORNER TO CORN, NORTH TO SOUTH TO EAST TO WEST, AND THE FOLKS I HAVE RUN INTO REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY WERE DOING WERE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE DOING, DID IT BECAUSE THEY ENJOYED SERVING PEOPLE, AND I THINK WE HAVE -- I THINK THIS BUDGET MAKES A STATEMENT THAT WE RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THAT.

>> IT USED TO BE WHEN YOU HAD LIKE A GOVERNMENT JOB, THAT WAS CONSIDERED SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE STUCK WITH FOREVER.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE CASE ANYMORE, I GUESS.

>> IT'S NOT.

THERE'S A BILL PENDING RIGHT NOW I THINK IT'S GONE OVER TO THE HOUSE, BUT PART OF OUR RETIREMENT PACKAGE TO TRY TO INCENTIVIZE AND HANG ON TO PEOPLE AFTER THEIR FOURTH YEAR BECAUSE WE LOUIS ABOUT 40% BY YEAR FIVE.

THERE'S WORK THERE, YOU ASKED CHAIRMAN ENGLAND WHAT HE WAS MOST PROUD OF.

HE SAID REALIZING EVERY STATE DOLLAR GOES TO A PERSON, AND IT STARTS WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS AS WELL.

IT STARTS WITH A PERSON.

THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS, WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES APLENTY, WE TRIED TO BE SO PRUDENT SO WE DON'T PUT OURSELVES INTO A BOX OR FUTURE LEGISLATORS IN A BOX, WHERE THEY CAN'T MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR JOERMA.

>> ONE OF THE KEY STEPS IN THE BUDGET PROCESS IS THE GOVERNOR'S ESTIMATE THAT HE MAKES OF THE BUDGET, THE REVENUE ESTIMATE.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS?

EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS.

WHO WANTS TO TACKLE THAT?

>> THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES IN THE PAST WHERE WE HAVE TRIED TO ASSERT OURSELVES MORE IN THAT PROCESS.

AND THE GOVERNOR AGREES WITH US, BUT I GUESS IF I HAD THAT ABILITY, TOO, I WOULD WANT TO KEEP IT MYSELF.

HE SETS THE BAR, AND GOVERNOR KEMP HAS BEEN VERY KIND TO WORK WITH US AND THE DIRECTOR TO KEEP US INVOLVED IN THE WHOLE PROCESS, HELP US WHILE HE MAKES THE ULTIMATE CALL, AND THAT WAS ALWAYS CLEAR ON SETTING THE REVENUE ESTIMATE, HELPING US TO UNDERSTAND WHERE HE WAS COMING FROM, TALKING WITH THE STATE ECONOMIST AMONG OTHERS, HE HAS BEEN EXTREMELY OPEN IN THE PROCESS, AND IT'S MADE IT EASIER AS WE CONTINUED TO WORK THROUGH THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO AGREE, BUT WHEN YOU START FROM A POINT YOU FEEL INCLUDED IT'S A WHOLE LOT EASIER TO DISAGREE AND FEEL HEARD.

>> HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER THAT?

>> SAME, ABSOLUTELY.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY IN THIS ROLE TO WORK WITH TWO DIFFERENT GOVERNORS.

AND AS A HISTORY OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA, ALL OF OUR GOVERNORS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FISCAL CONSERVATIVES, REGARDLESS OF PARTY.

AND YOU KNOW, THE CONSTITUTION IN OUR STATE SETS UP THE GOVERNORS AS A STRONG GOVERNOR AND SORT OF A WEAK GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BUT ONE OF THE KEY PIECES, ONE OF THE KEY TOOLS THE GOVERNOR HAS IN HIS TOOLBOX IS SETTING THAT REVENUE ESTIMATE.

AND IN DOING SO, IT DOES ALLOW FOR BEING ABLE TO RATHOLE A LITTLE BIT INTO THE RAINY DAY FUND A LITTLE FROM TIME TO TIME, SETTING IT LOWER THAN WHAT IT MIGHT BE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND EVERY DOLLAR COMING IN.

WE TRY NOT TINE OUR HOUSES, IN OUR BUSINESSES.

WE SHOULDN'T IN STATE GOVERNMENT AS WELL.

YOU SHOULD ALSO TRIDE TO BUDGET SO YOU HAVE A SET BACK, AND GEORGIA HAS BEEN FORTUNATE THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE YEARS OF OUR STATE THAT WE HAD GOVERNORS WHO HAVE HAD THAT MIND SET.

>> I GUESS THOSE ARE THINGS US PERSONALLY COULD LEARN FROM WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

I KNOW THAT THE BUDGET CAME FROM THE HOUSE AND IS NOW IN THE SENATE.

TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SENATE AND THEN THIS BACK AND FORTH, THE COMMITTEE PROCESS, WHERE YOU GUYS WILL DETERMINE THE FINAL BUDGET.

>> WE HAVE SUBCOMMITTEES JUST LIKE THE HOUSE DOES.

OUR SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS WORK THROUGH THEIR DIFFERENT PORTIONS OF THE BUDGET.

AFTER THEY'RE DONE WITH THAT, THEY'LL MAKE A SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT AND THEN YOU HAVE THREE TO FOUR INDIVIDUALS WHO -- THREE ON A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE WHO WILL EVENTUALLY MAKE A DECISION FOR WHAT THE SENATE'S POSITION WILL BE.

WE HAVE TO PITCH THAT TO THE COMMITTEE, PITCH THAT TO THE SENATE.

ONCE IT PASSES, IT GOES TO CONFERENCE.

WE'RE GETTING RIGHT DOWN INTO THAT PROCESS NOW.

WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE IN A POSITION TO COME OUT OF COMMITTEE THIS WEEK.

WHICH SHOULD SET US UP MAYBE ON THE FLOOR THIS WEEK, MAYBE THE BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK.

>> YOU LIKE TO HAVE THAT, THIS ISN'T SOMETHING YOU WAIT ON?

>> WE HAVE A FEW TIMES.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, YOU HAVE TO ALSO ALLOW TIME FOR FOR THEM TO MEET AND IRON OUT THE DIFFERENCES.

ANDLET THE HOUSE SEE THE ERROR OF THEIR WAYS AND JOIN US.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT, THE ERROR OF YOUR WAYS?

>> WE SEND THE SENATE A BEAUTIFUL, PERFECT DOCUMENT.

>> PERFECT.

>> IT IS, AND THEY WANT TO MAKE CHANGES.

THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT VERSION OF BEAUTIFUL AND PERFECT THAN WE DO.

THEN WE GET IN THAT ROOM AND TRY TO HASH OUT THOSE DIFFERENCES.

AND THAT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH CHAIRMAN TILLARY DOING THAT OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, AND IT CERTAINLY WAS WITH CHAIR IMMEDIATELY HIELD AS WELL.

>> ALL JOKING ASIDE, IT REALLY IS, THE DEBATES IN THE ROOM ARE ABOUT HOW YOU'RE DERIVING A NUMBER AND WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A TIME EVER THAT CHAIRMAN ENGLAND OR ANY OF THE HOUSE CONFEREES HAVE PUT US IN A POSITION TO FEEL INFERIOR.

THEY HAVE BEEN STRAIGHTFORWARD, JUST LIKE I SAID WITH THE GOVERNOR EARLIER.

IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, THROW IT DOWN AND TAKE YOUR BALL AND GO HOME.

IT REALLY IS TRYING TO CONVINCE THE OTHER SIDE OF WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, AND REALLY TRYING TO DO BOTH, WHAT THE HOUSE WANTS DO AND THE SENATE.

>> IT'S TRUE COMPROMISE WHEN IT COMES TO THAT STUFF.

OKAY.

I JUST WONDERED IF, AS WE LOOK AT YOUR 11 YEARS OF DOING THIS, YOU KNOW, ARE YOU THINKING OF HOW -- HOW DIFFERENT -- YOU TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW DIFFERENT IT IS, BUT YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THIS IS -- YOU'RE GOING TO MISS SOME OF IT?

>> I'LL MISS THE PEOPLE.

I HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY BLESSED ON THE HOUSE SIDE AND WORKING ON THE SENATE SIDE AS WELL WITH OUR STAFF.

OUR HOUSE BUDGET AND RESEARCH OFFICE STAFF AND SENATE BUDGET EVALUATION STAFF.

YOU NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THOSE INDIVIDUALS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING UNTOWARD OR FOR PERSONAL GAIN.

IT'S ALL ABOUT TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THOSE END USERS, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY AT THE END OF THOSE DOLLARS.

AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE AS WELL AS WE DO ALL OF THIS BALANCING THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THE ONES THAT ARE LETTING US SPEND THIS MONEY AS WELL.

AND MARTHA WIGDIN HAS WORKED WITH ME JUST ABOUT MY ENTIRE TIME AS CHAIRMAN IN THE HOUSE.

SHE'S BEEN MY BUDGET DIRECTOR IN THE HOUSE BUDGET RESEARCH OFFICE, HER AND CHRISTINE MURDOCH HAVE BEEN THERE TOGETHER, AND YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO MISS THEM.

I'M GOING TO MISS WORKING WITH CHAIRMAN TILLERY AND A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME TRUE LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS I HAVE MADE, AND I INTEND TO STAY IN TOUCH.

>> USUALLY, IN THE LAST YEAR, WE LET YOU GUYS THANK SOME OF YOUR STAFFERS.

YOU THANKED A COUPLE OF THEM.

ANYONE ELSE YOU WANT TO MENTION?

>> I BETTER MENTION MY WIFE, BECAUSE SHE'S THE BUNN WHO KEEPS THE HOME FIRES BURNING.

MY DAD, TOO.

JUST, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT FIX ME PEAS AND CORNBREAD WHEN I GO HOME ON THE WEEKEND AND THAT'S MY COMFORT FOOD, AND YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING AT HOME IS TAKEN CARE OF WHILE I'M DOWN HERE.

>> WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT, ALL OF THE LONG DAYS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT YOU COMING IN BEFORE THE SUN IS REALLY UP AND LEAVING LONG AFTER DARK.

SO YOUR FAMILY HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH THAT.

AND SO YOU'RE A FARMER, RIGHT?

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> AND A BUSINESS OWNER.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

>> I DON'T KNOW YET.

I ENJOY WORKING ON ANTIQUE TRACTORS AND DOING TRACTOR RESTORATIONS.

I HAVE DONE A FEW OF THOSE.

I STARTED ONE FOR MYSELF 18 YEARS AGO.

ACTUALLY BEFORE I DECIDED TO RUN FOR OFFICE, AND IT'S STILL NOT COMPLETED YET.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE NEXT PROJECT ON THE BOARD IN THE SHOP IS TO GET THAT ONE DONE.

AND THE HONEY-DO LIST.

>> I'M SURE THERE WILL BE A LOT OF THAT.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

THERE'S SOME STAFFERS YOU WOULD LIKE TO THANK?

>> NO WAY WE COULD DO THIS PROCESS WITHOUT THE SENATE BUDGET OFFICE.

MELODY AND BRENT AND OTHERS, KEITH, LINDSAY, AUSTIN.

WHEN I START NAMING NAMES, I'M GOING TO LEAVE ONE OUT AND FEEL BAD LATER ON, CAITLIN, JUST DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB, AND COURTNEY, WHO KEEPS OUR SYSTEM GOING.

COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THEM.

I APPRECIATE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND COMMITTEE FOR PUTTING ME IN THIS POSITION TO BEGIN WITH.

YOU SAID IT EARLIER, WHEN I BECAME A CHAIR, IT WAS A ROUGH DAY FOR THE SENATE.

CHAIRMAN ENGLAND WAS SUCH A KIND FIGURE, WORKED WITH US SO WELL TO GET THROUGH THAT 14% BUDGET CUT ORIGINALLY.

IN OUR FAMILY, WE HAD A BABY, 9-MONTH-OLD JOHN, SO THAT MEANS I NEED TO THANK EVEN MORE PEOPLE.

MY WIFE IS A PHYSICIAN.

THERE'S NO WAY I COULD BE HERE WITHOUT HER AND MY WIFE AND GRANDPARENTS WHO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

WE'RE A PART-TIME LEGISLATURE AND IT TAKES A COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT ONE OF THESE SEATS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PART-TIME LEGISLATURE PART.

YOU WANT TO TELL PEOPLE THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY TRUE, RIGHT?

ESPECIALLY WITH YOUR JOB.

>> IT ISN'T FOR THE TWO OF US, FOR THE SPEAKER AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

IT'S A FULL-TIME JOB, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE.

YOU TAKE IN $30 BILLION IN STATE FUNDS AND DOUBLE THAT WITH FEDERAL FUNDS.

IT TAKES THE TIME TO DO IT AND MAKE SURE IT'S BEING DONE RIGHT.

>> ARE PEOPLE REACHING OUT TO YOU WHEN YOU'RE NOT IN SESSION?

>> ALL THE TIME.

>> ALL THE TIME?

SAME WITH YOU?

>> IT STAYS BUSY.

>> DO YOU FEEL READY TO BE THE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, THE SEASONED GUY IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS?

AND YOU HAVE ONLY BEEN DOING IT SINCE 2020?

>> I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE TWO REALLY GOOD MENTORS, CHAIRMAN JACK HIELD AND CHAIRMAN TERRY ENGLAND.

I'LL REMEMBER THEIR STORIES AND WHAT THEY TAUGHT ME LONG AFTER THEY'RE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

IT DOESN'T HURT TO TELL YOU THAT AS DONNA SAID EARLIER, BEFORE YOU GET YOUR FLOWERS BEFORE YOU NEED THEM.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I WANT THE THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.

THANKS FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR GEORGIA OVER THE YEARS.

THAT'S THE END OF OUR SHOW.

JOIN US TOMORROW FOR LEGISLATIVE DAY 33.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.