Politics & Government
Veto of North Fulton Campus Funding Disappoints
Gov. Deal rejected funding many design projects from state budget.
Β Gov. Nathan Deal's line item veto of funds for the design of a Gwinnett Tech North Fulton campus isn't stopping the college from moving ahead.
Gwinnett Technical College President Sharon Bartels said the college understands the budget issues.
"Although disappointed, of course, we understand the challenges that Gov. Deal and state leaders face in balancing the budget and meeting the needs of Georgians," she said. "We hope to see this included in next yearβs capital outlay request."
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Nancy Davis, chairman of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Workforce Development committee, said she wanted to emphasize that the chamber is in agreement with what Bartels said.
"Sure, we are disappointed. This might slow us down a little bit, but it's not going to stop the project. What we need to realize is that there's a lot of community support to bring that technical college into North Fulton. We still intend to do that," said the Georgia Power executive.
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Davis said the chamber has great partnerships with businesses and Fulton County Schools.
"It just means we have to do a little bit more fund raising," she said, adding she hopes it will be back in the budget next year.
The chamber and the community will pursue the North Fulton campus no matter what, even if state funding for the design never comes through. As of Wednesday afternoon, no site has been selected out of eight under consideration, Davis said.
Deal vetoed the $256,800 in debt service to finance the design. The money would have been used to pay debt created through the issuance of $3 million in 20-year bonds.
"Projects authorized for design only should not be funded with 20-year bonds," Deal said in a news release this week detailing his vetoes.
The governor said the design doesn't result in a physical asset.
"The state's priority should be to fund construction for existing projects for which we have already paid for the design," he said in his veto message.
Gwinnett Tech will continue to push for a North Fulton campus.
"Gwinnett Tech will also work with the community at large through private philanthropy to support our efforts for an eventual campus in north Fulton County," Bartels said.
Local residents have options already.
"Residents of our north Fulton County service area can begin college credit programs at our Gwinnett County campus and, in the months to come, the college will expand continuing education offerings in north Fulton County," Bartels said.
Davis also said what's important is that Gwinnett Tech can do a number of things in the community today with a building.
"We don't have to have a campus to begin offering certain types of programs in North Fulton. We are not waiting on a physical address to begin," Davis said.
Workforce training, the Georgia Work Ready program and the Georgia Retraining program can begin.
"We can get involved with dual enrollment with Fulton County Schools," she said.
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