Georgia Senate Approves $38.5B Budget with Cuts to Public College Funding

The budget now heads to a conference committee to resolve differences with the House version.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 7:05pm

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The Georgia Senate passed its $38.5 billion fiscal year 2027 budget, which includes a $110 million reduction in funding for public colleges and universities compared to the House version. The Senate also increased funding for private K-12 school vouchers by $31 million and added $100 million to the state employee pension system.

Why it matters

The budget process in Georgia is a key political battleground, with the Republican-controlled Senate and House often at odds over funding priorities. The cuts to public college funding could impact tuition, programs, and services at state universities, while the increase in private school vouchers reflects a broader debate over education policy in the state.

The details

The Senate's budget reduces the House's proposed increase in funding for the University System of Georgia by just over $110 million, from $3.6 billion this year to $3.76 billion next year. The Senate also increased funding for private K-12 school vouchers by $31 million and added $100 million to the state employee pension system.

  • The Georgia Senate passed its version of the $38.5 billion fiscal year 2027 budget on March 28, 2026.
  • The House had previously passed its own version of the budget earlier in March 2026.

The players

Blake Tillery

Republican state senator and chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

University System of Georgia

The public university system in Georgia, which includes 26 institutions.

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What they’re saying

“I think this is one of the most important lines in the budget. Pensions have been eroded by decades of inflation as increases have failed to keep pace.”

— Blake Tillery, State Senator and Appropriations Committee Chairman

What’s next

The budget will now go to a conference committee, where lawmakers from the House and Senate will work to resolve the differences between the two versions.

The takeaway

The Georgia Senate's budget cuts to public college funding reflect an ongoing debate over education priorities in the state, with Republicans favoring increased support for private school vouchers over public universities. The final budget will be shaped by negotiations between the House and Senate.