ATLANTA (AP) The budget approved by Georgia lawmakers is expected to bring a wave of new construction to the state, which means big business for contractors, road-builders and companies that supply equipment to government and school facilities.
The budget includes $1.1 billion in borrowing for construction and equipment purchases, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported (http://on-ajc.com/1ayssTu ).
That money will go toward projects ranging from a new library in Marietta and new human services building in Lawrenceville to equipment for the new Georgia Film Academy, which will train students to work in the state's booming film industry.
The bond package also includes $100 million to replace and repair bridges across the state and $75 million for transit projects.
The bond package is the largest since then-Gov. Sonny Perdue pumped up borrowing during the Great Recession in hopes of creating badly needed construction jobs, the Atlanta newspaper reported.
The University of Georgia also got big money in the bond package. Lawmakers approved $43 million for the second phase of a business facility at the Athens campus, $17 million for a center for molecular medicine, and $3.3 million to buy equipment for a new science center.
Lawmakers also approved a transportation funding bill that could inject another $900 million or so annually into road and bridge projects. That money is expected to provide big business for road contractors.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/4/301470/georgia-budget-to-fund-range-of-construction-projects