Governor Brian P. Kemp signed the fiscal year 2020 budget. Joined by lawmakers, law enforcement officials, educators, and local leaders in Camilla, Georgia, Governor Kemp's signature of the balanced budget caps a historic first legislative session.

"This budget demonstrates our priorities as a state, reflects our core values, and signals the bright future ahead for all Georgians," said Governor Kemp. "For the second year in a row, our state fully-funded public education. With the support of the General Assembly, this budget delivers a well-deserved - and long overdue - educator pay raise of $3,000, the largest in state history.”

"I am confident these bold investments will enhance educational outcomes and yield huge dividends for our students and our state in the future.

"The 2020 budget reaffirms our strong commitment to lead on healthcare and put patients - not the status quo - first. This year, we are supporting seven long-term, acute care hospitals, three rehabilitation facilities, and providing additional resources for residency spots for family physicians, while also expanding medical school class sizes at Augusta University and the University of Georgia by 50%. These investments are further supported by funds for a Center of Excellence on Maternal Mortality at the Morehouse School of Medicine.

"We have also included additional funding for children's health services, investments in behavioral health, additional meals for the elderly, and more resources for children in foster care.

"I ran for governor on a single promise: to put hardworking Georgians first. That's exactly what the 2020 budget does; it builds on our strengths, addresses the challenges ahead, and ensures opportunity for all Georgians - no matter where they live."

Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan:

“Eleven million Georgians expect our policies to enhance education, economic development, and health care. The FY 2020 budget – which passed the Georgia Senate unanimously – recognizes those priorities by fully funding our K – 12 education system, raising educator pay, promoting innovative approaches to technological learning, advancing health care reform measures, and funding programs which prepare our state for long-term success.

"I want to thank Governor Kemp, Speaker Ralston, and the Appropriations Chairmen in both chambers for their commitment and dedication to passing a priority-driven budget that will significantly improve the State of Georgia.”

Speaker David Ralston:

“The FY2020 budget reflects our commitment to investing for the future by upgrading our voting technology, funding infrastructure improvements and, especially, rewarding our dedicated teachers and state employees,” said Speaker Ralston. “Building off Governor Kemp’s vision of putting Georgians first and working with Lt. Governor Duncan, we have arrived at a budget that will keep Georgia winning.

"My thanks to House Appropriations Chairman Terry England and the members of his committee as well as their counterparts in the Senate for all their hard work on behalf of our General Assembly.”