The salary increase for teachers and public servants has been approved by the Georgian Parliament.

Atlanta (AP) - The GeorgiaHouse of Representatives supports a state budget that includes salary increases for public school teachers and state employees, as well as increased spending on education, healthcare, and mental health.

On Thursday, the House voted 172-1 in favor of Bill 916 regarding the budget.

It provides for expenditures of $36.1 billion in government funds and $66.5 billion in total by July 1. The bill is being sent to the Senate for further discussion.

“This is a magnificent budget that meets the needs of the residents of Georgia from all walks of life and all parts of the state,” said House Speaker John Burns, a Republican from Newnan. “I thank everyone who voted for this bill. It’s nice to see how we all collaborate and find common ground in the interests of our citizens.”

Expenses will be reduced compared to the current budget after Governor Brian Kemp and lawmakers supplemented it with billions in one-time funds, increasing state spending to $38 billion for the year ending June 30.

Public school teachers will receive a $2,500 raise starting July 1, which will increase the average salary of teachers in Georgia to $65,000 annually, as proposed by the Republican governor in January. This is in addition to the $1,000 bonus that Kemp paid out in December. Kindergarten teachers will also receive a $2,500 raise.

Government and university employees will also receive a 4% salary increase, bringing their annual pay to $70,000. The average government employee earns $50,400.

In total, this amounts to over 600 million dollars for salary increases. Teachers previously received a raise of 7,000 dollars during the first five years of Kemp's tenure as governor.

Some employees will receive more. Law enforcement officers will get an additional raise of $3,000, on top of the $6,000 they received last year.

Many judges will also receive raises under this plan. The House proposes to spend over $10 million to implement half of the plan for increasing and standardizing judges' salaries. House Budget Committee Chairman Matt Hatchett, a Republican from Dublin, says that the second part will be implemented next year. The House will also provide $15.2 million to raise the salaries of assistant district attorneys, as Hatchett stated that low salaries contribute to the shortage of prosecutors.

Overall, according to Hatchett, he believes that raising salaries "improves the attractiveness and retention of employees" in government agencies that have lost workers due to higher pay elsewhere.

The state will spend hundreds of millions of dollars more to increase payments to nursing homes providing home care services, dialysis providers, physical and occupational therapists, as well as some doctors. Most of the increases were proposed by Kemp, but an additional 27 million dollars were added by the House.

Adults receiving Medicaid in Georgia will be able to access basic dental care funded by the state for the first time, amounting to $9 million, or $28 million including federal funds.

The state is proposing to spend an additional 21 million dollars on shelters for victims of domestic violence and responses to sexual assaults. Some of these organizations have faced significant cuts in federal funding. Hatchett stated that this funding does not directly compensate for federal funds, but the state should cover the services they provide.

Lawmakers in the State Duma will spend $6.33 million on free breakfasts and lunches in public schools for children who currently pay reduced prices but are not considered poor enough to receive free meals.

The budget also confirms Kemp's plan to spend $104 million on ensuring school safety and $205 million on increasing the state's share in the purchase and operation of school buses. Representatives also support the plan to reverse the long-term cuts to the Department of Child Care and Learning, reducing the number of children in preschool groups to 20 from the long-standing number of 22.

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