Kemp’s amended budget has good news for Augusta

Ga. Gov. Brian Kemp (R) pointed to the Peach State’s continued economic health in his 2025 State of the State address on Jan. 16.

He said Georgia had withstood unforeseen challenges, including a pandemic and major weather disasters, while retaining its number one ranking as the best state to do business for the 11th year.

Kemp’s speech highlighted the broad strokes of the state’s economic picture, past and future, and included a call to lower the personal income tax to 5.19% from the current 5.39%.

However, in his amended FY2025 budget plan, ABD discovered a major gift to Augusta.

Nearly $100 million to build a new research building at Augusta University’s Medical Sciences campus.

“It’s not a bond. It’s in the corrections that we do,” Rep. Mark Newton (R-District 127) explained. “Since we did have an exceptionally good year in a lot of ways, compared to the revenue estimate, we still are kind of reaping the benefits that we don’t have to put these projects out for a bond. This is just being done with all cash.”

Dr. Russell Keen, President of Augusta University, said they worked with the local delegation and had meetings in Augusta and Atlanta to garner support for the project.

They stressed the new building would benefit not just metro Augusta, but the “ecosystem for intellectual capital” for the entire state by attracting researchers and innovations in healthcare.

“So, it really is an exciting time for us, but much needed, much awaited advancement in our research portfolio,” he said. “What we’ve been talking with folks about is not that this building is one and done. In other words, we’re not going to build this and then you’ll hear from us again in 40-plus years. This building is the beginning of an aggressive strategy to grow not only our researchers and in the facilities here, but grow the impact of the Medical College of Georgia and Augusta University and throughout the state.”

The project carries a total price tag of $146.2 million. The remainder of the money has been raised locally.

“What Augusta did is several philanthropists have gotten together and pledged $30 million, and the school has been working on some efficiencies at the Medical College to contribute $16 and a half million,” said Newton.

Keen said the local financial commitment made the difference.

“Simply put, we would not be having this conversation without it. All the meetings I just discussed with you would not have taken place had we not had the local support for this project,” he said. “Without local skin in the game, we would not have been able to move this forward. Because it is one of those things where we’ve got leadership in place throughout our government that understand that you got to be able to leverage public-private partnerships.”

Although a final decision on where the new research building will be placed, a spokesman said a likely location is Pavilion 2 on Laney Walker Blvd.

Keen said the research building is just phase one in the vision of how to grow Augusta University. Part two of our story will look at those plans, and what economic impact the business community believes the new building will have.

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