Atlanta Governor’s Bond Package to Dedicate Millions Towards Campus Building Projects

Atlanta’s Governor Nathan Deal has included more than $272 million in his 2017 state fiscal budget dedicated to building projects for university campuses, part of a proposed bond package of $850 million.

The $272 million set aside for campus building projects is the largest component of the bond package, with yet another $224 million dedicated to construction at public elementary and secondary schools. Another $100 million of the bond package would be furthermore reserved for repairing bridges throughout the state.

A number of individual plans are included within the bond which would renovate and restore specific buildings on campuses across Georgia, such as $47.4 million to restore the S. Prince Gilbert Library and Dorothy M. Crosland Tower at Georgia Tech.

Other schools benefitting from the package include the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, which will be offered $19 million to expand the biology building, and $16.2 million committed to the industrial training and technology building at Southern Crescent Technical College in McDonough. Kennesaw State University will also witness the development of a new academic learning center thanks to $2.5 million from the bond.

In addition to campus projects, money from the bond, if passed, will also go to additional facilities which can further protect and enrich the state of Georgia. $13.7 million will be designated towards construction and renovation of the Metro State Prison in Atlanta, which will be newly focused on the transition of inmates from prison back into society. Other aspects of the bond will be used to construct a new state judicial building, add a forensic unit to the Georgia Regional Hospital, and expand downtown Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park amphitheater.

Committees will gather on Tuesday to review the governor’s budget requests and make final decisions regarding the bond.

regions: Atlanta

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