The Georgia State Senate passed its version of the FY2011 state budget on Wendesday.  The move came a week after the House approved its recommendations on Legislative Day 36.

The Senate edition of the budget maintained many of the same items as the House version in regard to the University System and Georgia Tech.  Both the House and the Senate agreed with the Governor's recommendation to approve $7 million in bonds to equip the Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons, Georgia Tech's primary budget priority.  Both bodies also voted to fund growth in Formula Funds at $113 million, the total of which will be shared among all USG institutions.  Since both chambers approved these items, they are considered to be off the table during continued negotiations.

The House and Senate did differ in some areas of the Regents' budget.  From an operations standpoint, the Senate reduced the USG budget by an additional $13 million over the House budget.  On the other hand, Senators were more generous with capital items.

The Eco-Commons water relocation project at Tech, which was not included in the House budget, received partial funding in the Senate.  $300,000 in bonds were recommended for the design of that project, down from the $4.5 million requested for full construction.  The Senate also reverted to the Governor's recommendation for Major Repair and Rehabilitation funds of $60 million.  The House had suggested $55 million.

House and Senate leaders must now reconcile their individual chambers' budgets in conference committee, the first meeting of which occured on Thursday morning.  A conference committee version of the budget is expected to appear on the floors of both chambers on Tuesday or Thursday of next week.

Staff from the Office of Government and Community Relations will continue to monitor the progress of the budget at the State Capitol and advocate for full consideration of the University System and Institute's priorities, including complete funding of the Eco-Commons capital project.