How Middle Georgia will benefit from the state’s $37.7 billion FY 2026 budget

Gov. Brian Kemp (R-Ga.) says the state’s $37.7 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026 will increase funding for education, prisons, Medicaid and more.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Gov. Brian Kemp (R-Ga.) says the state’s $37.7 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026 will increase funding for education, prisons, Medicaid and more.

In a press call Monday, kemp said the state’s amended budget for FY 2025 includes $25 million dollars going toward enhancement of the Mercer University School of Medicine, which will be moving to downtown Macon. As for 2026, Kemp says Central State Hospital in Milledgeville is getting $1.9 million for a new 17-bed unit. Georgia’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Until also received funds that will allow the agency to open offices in Macon and Augusta.

Kemp says Georgians can expect the one-time special tax refund of up to $500 for families that filed together in the coming weeks.

“For families that paid taxes last year, they’ll get a dollar-for-dollar rebate of up to $500 depending on how much tax they paid,” Kemp said. “The department of revenue has that in the works. We’ve done this before, so it’ll probably be a lot smoother process than it was two and a half, three years ago. So, really those checks should be starting to hit here pretty soon.” 

Kemp says the state provided nearly $1 million in one-time grants to public, rural, and critical access hospitals across Middle Georgia that were impacted by Hurricane Helene.