The Parliament of Georgia approved the revised budget with investments in roads and premium payments - WABE.

Amendments to Georgia's current budget move forward Tuesday, including $315 million to cover bonuses already paid to state employees and public school teachers, as well as $1.5 billion in additional money for road construction and maintenance. The House Appropriations Committee voted to advance House Bill 915, which would have increased spending in the current budget, which runs through June 30, by a whopping $5 billion. The House is scheduled to vote on the bill on Wednesday.I know that there are actually some really good things in this budget," said Appropriations Committee Chairman Matt Hatchett, a Dublin Republican. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp has proposed increasing spending of state funds to $37.5 billion. Total spending, including federal aid, college tuition, fines and fees, would be $67.5 billion, as Kemp plans to spend less in the next budget year, starting July 1, because he plans to use $2 billion from reserves this year. Georgia has accumulated $5.4 billion in a crisis reserve fund that is filled to the legal limit of 15 percent of state revenues. In addition, $10.7 billion in surplus funds have been accumulated over the past three years.

After Kemp's proposed spending, $8.7 billion would remain. Because revenue estimates are set by the governor, above which the legislature cannot spend, lawmakers are essentially reallocating the governor's proposed spending and every time they want to add something else, they will have to cut something.On Tuesday, House committee members voted to bring back projects that Kemp had originally eliminated from this year's budget, which drew the ire of lawmakers. Kemp later softened his stance on some of that spending. "We're working very closely together," Hatchett said of working to bring back the spending. "They hear us. I hear them. Nobody is blameless."The governor before Christmas ordered bonuses of 1,000 to the