Peach Tree Times

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) recently delivered his State of the State address and announced that his proposed budget for 2022 would include funding to boost public education and increase pay for educators across the state.

According to FOX 5 Atlanta, teachers, school support staff and administrators would be eligible to receive a one-time $2,000 supplemental payment under Kemp's proposed 2022 amended budget.

"My fiscal 2023 budget proposal will include a final installment of $2,000 to finish out the largest teacher pay raise in state history -- a total of $5,000 since 2019," Kemp said, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.

Gov. Brian Kemp | Facebook/Gov. Brian Kemp

Other school employees -- including bus drivers, nurses and part-time workers -- would be eligible for a one-time $1,000 payment.

"Hardworking Georgians in our schools -- the school staff, administrators, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and teachers -- all do a terrific job keeping our kids safe and investing in their futures," Kemp said told FOX 5 Atlanta. "To support their heroic efforts day in and day out, I believe we as state leaders must continue to do everything we can to ensure they have the resources necessary to fulfill their mission and prepare the next generation of leaders for successful lives and careers."

Kemp's budget proposal includes $425 million to fund Georgia's Quality Basic Education (QBE) formula.

State Senate Minority Leader Gloria Butler (D-Stone Mountain) approved of some of Kemp's proposals, but she thinks that he doesn't go far enough.

"We need to invest in our schools and students," Butler said, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. "I am glad that the governor is finally fulfilling his promise to raise teachers' pay, but there is so much more needed in education, especially right now. Online school has exacerbated the learning gap between students of means and students without means. Remember that the 'B' in QBE stands for basic. While doing the basic minimum is important, we can go beyond that and shoot for excellence."

The governor also said that he would invest in public safety and has proposed a proposed a $5,000 pay increase for state employees, including state law enforcement.