Georgia budget includes funds for Augusta area youth, cyber, prison
The 2020 state budget signed by Gov. Brian Kemp on Friday includes approximately $40 million in new funding for area state agencies, including $14 million to renovate the Fort Gordon Youth Challenge Academy.
The $14 million bond issue is the largest single allocation in the 2020 budget. Last year, the state invested more than $100 million for the Hull-McKnight and Shaffer MacCartney buildings at the Georgia Cyber Center.
Since 2000, the Youth Challenge Academy has enrolled around 100 to 200 high school dropouts in a 22-week military-style program during which 16- to 19- year-olds take classes to complete their GEDs and learn life skills.
Much of the remaining state funding involves the Georgia Cyber Center, state law enforcement and Augusta University.