1. Understanding the Appropriations Documents
Presented by
Dave Lakly,

2. Crafting a Budget in Georgia: 30,000 foot view
The Governor (Executive Branch) recommends a budget to the General Assembly (Legislative Branch)
The General Assembly debates and passes a budget
The Governor signs (or vetoes) the budget

3. Legislative Branch: General Assembly
Creates laws that govern GA
Members elected every two years by district
House of Representatives
180 Members
Speaker of the House is elected by the chamber and presides
Senate
56 Members
Lieutenant Governor is elected statewide and presides

4. Committees House has 36 standing committees
Senate has 30 standing committees
All members serve on two or more committees
All legislation moves through committees
The Appropriations Committee deals with the budget

5. Legislative Duties Adopt an annual budget
Introduce bills that change, repeal, or add to current statutory law
Introduce resolutions that express opinions or recognition
Consider constitutional amendments (2/3 vote)

6. How a Bill Becomes a Law Introduced to the House or Senate
Considered by Committee
Floor consideration
Governor consideration

7. Introduction of a Bill
Bill sponsor submits to Clerk of House or Secretary of Senate
Bill assigned a number
Read to the chamber
Assigned a committee
Tax and revenue bills must originate in the House
This rule includes the budget!

8. Committee Consideration
Committee studies the bill, holds hearings
Favorable review
Do pass
Do pass with amendments
Do pass by substitute
Unfavorable review
Do not pass
(take no action)

9. Committee Consideration
Rules Committee decides what bills receive floor consideration (very powerful!)
Favorable review
Do pass
Do pass with amendments
Do pass by substitute
Unfavorable review
Do not pass
(take no action)

10. Floor Consideration House or Senate members debate the bill
Amendments may be introduced
Most bills require a majority vote
Identical bills must pass House and Senate (conference committee)
Must pass one chamber by Day 30

11. Rules

12. Rules

13. Governor Consideration
Bills approved by House and Senate go to the Governor
Governor has forty days to consider
Sign = becomes law
No action = becomes law
Veto = does not become law (Vetoes can be overturned by a 2/3 majority vote in each chamber – rare!)
Bills that become law are known as acts

14. OPB
The Governor crafts a budget recommendation with the assistance of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (OPB)
OPB does many things!
Strategic Planning, Program Budgeting, Budget Development, Budget Administration, Process Improvement, Capital Budgeting, Legislative Analysis and Assistance, Motor Vehicle Oversight

15. Governor’s Budget Report
How does the Governor recommend a budget?
Must submit The Governor’s Budget Report to the General Assembly within five days after a session convenes
Homework: OCGA outlines specifically what should be in the budget report

16. General Assembly
Convenes second Monday of January for forty session days

17. Governor’s Budget Submission
Governor releases Budget Report and Draft Appropriations Bills simultaneously
Usually coincides with State of the State Address
Budget bills introduced in the House by floor leaders
One bill for amended budget, one bill for general budget

18. Budget Report Includes Budget Highlights Financial Summaries
Revenue Estimate
Summary of Appropriations
Vital statewide information
Department Summaries
Program-specific changes

19. Budget Report

20. Budget Report

21. Budget Report

22. Look at Handout!
Pages 1-9

23. Joint Budget Hearings
The House and Senate hold joint budget hearings co-chaired by the House Appropriations Committee Chair and the Senate Appropriations Committee Chair
Agency heads and fiscal officers present and answer questions
Budget Report is the document used in this hearing!

24. Appropriations Bills Presented by program, summarized by department
Legal level of control is fund source within program
This is the lowest level of budgetary detail at which the government may not reassign resources without legislative approval
House and Senate bills look different – the House writes the final bill in odd- numbered years, the Senate in even- numbered years

25. Stages of Approval
Bills follow legislative process through each chamber, using several subcommittees

26. House of Representatives
The House process uses two documents:
Appropriations Bill
Tracking Sheet
Includes information on different phases of bill (Gov, House, Senate, CC)
Does not have force of law
House prints final bill for odd-numbered years

27. House of Representatives

28. House of Representatives

29. House of Representatives

30. Look at Handout!
Pages 10-15

31. Senate
The Senate creates an appropriations bill with tracking information included
No additional tracking sheet
Senate prints final bill for even-numbered years

32. Senate

33. Look at Handout!
Pages 16-17

34. Conference Committee
If the House and Senate do not adopt identical budgets, the bill is referred to a Conference Committee
The Speaker of the House and President of the Senate each appoint three members to the Conference Committee
Both chambers typically create a version of the tracking sheet called a “differences report” or “conference committee report

35. Conference Committee

36. Look at Handout!
Pages 18-23

37. Fund Sources
The Governor’s Budget Report and the appropriations bills have detailed information for the fund sources available for appropriation.

38. Revenue Sources (FY18 Example)

39. Revenue Sources (FY17 Example)

40. Bonds (FY18 Example)

41. Bonds (FY17 Example)

42. Bonds (FY17 Example)

43. Where do I find documents?

44. Where do I find documents?

45. Where do I find documents?

46. History

47. History

48. Vetoes

49. Dave Lakly
(706)