GPS RESEARCH LIBRARY: FY2027 GDC Approved Budget — HB 974 Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute ============================================================ Georgia Prisoners' Speak — gps.press Generated: 2026-04-06 22:02:34 EDT Research Date: 2026-04-04 Topic: GDC Budget JSON: https://gps.press/research-data/fy2027-gdc-approved-budget-hb-974-senate-appropriations-committee-substitute/?format=json SUMMARY ---------------------------------------- The Georgia General Assembly approved the FY2027 budget (HB 974) for the Department of Corrections at $1,770,903,120 in state funds, adding $8.8M over the Governor's proposal. The Senate Appropriations Committee substitute added a $2,000 correctional officer salary adjustment (~$15.6M), rejected private prison bed expansion at Coffee and Wheeler CIs, and dramatically increased mental health contract funding to $12.1M (6x the Governor's request). However, the approved budget cut the high school diploma program (-$104K), zeroed out Metro Reentry programming, and allocated approximately $22.1M in new surveillance/security spending against effectively negative rehabilitation spending, continuing a documented pattern of prioritizing surveillance over programming. STATISTICS (41) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] FY2027 GDC Total State Funds Approved The Senate Appropriations Committee approved $1,770,903,120 in total state funds for the Georgia Department of Corrections for FY2027, an increase of $8,833,156 over the Governor's proposed $1,762,069,964. Value: 1770903120.0 dollars (vs. 1762069964 Governor's proposed FY2027 budget) Tags: budget,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] FY2027 GDC State General Funds Approved The approved FY2027 GDC budget includes $1,762,261,281 in State General Funds. Value: 1762261281.0 dollars Tags: budget,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Opioid Settlement Trust Fund Allocated to GDC The FY2027 approved budget includes $8,641,839 from the Opioid Settlement Trust Fund as a new funding source for GDC, split between Detention Centers ($2,547,035) and State Prisons ($6,094,804). This represents a shift from State General Funds rather than new spending. Value: 8641839.0 dollars Tags: budget,drugs,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] FY2027 GDC Total Public Funds Total public funds appropriated for GDC in FY2027 are $1,787,672,791, comprising State Funds ($1,770,903,120), Federal Funds ($809,589), Agency Funds ($14,855,486), and Intra-State Government Transfers ($1,104,596). Value: 1787672791.0 dollars Tags: budget,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] $2,000 Correctional Officer Salary Adjustment Added by SAC The Senate Appropriations Committee added a $2,000 correctional officer salary adjustment totaling approximately $15.6M distributed across all GDC programs. This was not in the Governor's proposed budget. Value: 15600000.0 dollars (approximate total) (vs. 2000 per-officer salary increase) Tags: budget,staffing,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Physical Health Contract Increase Reduced by SAC The SAC approved a $32,637,565 increase for the physical health contract, reduced from the Governor's proposed $47.9M increase — a reduction of approximately $15M from the Governor's request. Value: 32637565.0 dollars increase (vs. 47900000 Governor's proposed increase) Tags: budget,medical,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Mental Health Contract Increase — 6x Governor's Proposal The SAC approved a $12,127,034 increase for the mental health contract, matching the House version and representing approximately 6 times the Governor's proposed $1.9M increase. Value: 12127034.0 dollars increase (vs. 1900000 Governor's proposed increase) Tags: budget,mental_health,medical,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Dental Health Contract Increase The SAC approved a $1,498,347 increase for dental health services in the Health program. Value: 1498347.0 dollars increase Tags: budget,medical,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Pharmacy Per Diem Increase The SAC approved a $3,681,328 increase for pharmacy per diem costs in the Health program. Value: 3681328.0 dollars increase Tags: budget,medical,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Total Health Program Appropriation FY2027 The Health program received $427,216,930 in total public funds ($426,337,146 State General Funds + $573,812 Federal + $305,972 Agency). Value: 427216930.0 dollars Tags: budget,medical,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] CO Positions for Staff Ratios — State Prisons The SAC approved $28,527,189 for new correctional officer positions to improve staff ratios in State Prisons. Value: 28527189.0 dollars Tags: budget,staffing,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] OWL Unit Total New Spending The OWL Unit received $6,964,268 in new spending, comprising $1,443,038 for personnel and $5,521,230 for technology. Value: 6964268.0 dollars Tags: budget,operations,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Managed Access/Drone Detection from Existing Funds Managed access and drone detection systems were funded at $10,793,600 from existing funds with $0 in new appropriations. Value: 10793600.0 dollars (existing funds) Tags: budget,contraband,operations,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Managed Access Analysts — 5 New Positions The SAC approved 5 new managed access analyst positions at a cost of $409,040. Value: 409040.0 dollars (vs. 5 new positions) Tags: budget,staffing,contraband,operations Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Security Threat Group Coordinators — 3 New Positions The SAC approved 3 new security threat group coordinator positions at a cost of $377,168. Value: 377168.0 dollars (vs. 3 new positions) Tags: budget,staffing,gangs,operations Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Canine Handlers — 6 New Positions The SAC approved 6 new canine handler positions at a cost of $695,018. Value: 695018.0 dollars (vs. 6 new positions) Tags: budget,staffing,contraband,operations Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Call Monitoring Increase The SAC approved a $1,118,244 increase for call monitoring in State Prisons. Value: 1118244.0 dollars increase Tags: budget,operations,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Data Intelligence Maintenance The SAC approved $1,750,000 for data intelligence maintenance in State Prisons. Value: 1750000.0 dollars Tags: budget,operations,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [estimated] Total New Surveillance/Security Spending FY2027 Total new surveillance and security spending in the FY2027 approved budget is approximately $22.1M, including managed access/drone detection ($10.8M existing), OWL Unit ($7.0M), managed access analysts ($409K), data intelligence ($1.75M), call monitoring ($1.1M), security threat group coordinators ($377K), and canine handlers ($695K). Value: 22100000.0 dollars (approximate) Tags: budget,operations,policy,contraband Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] State Prisons Total Appropriation FY2027 State Prisons received $929,889,321 in total public funds ($910,440,149 State General + $6,094,804 Opioid Trust + $235,777 Federal + $13,118,591 Agency), making it by far the largest GDC program. Value: 929889321.0 dollars Tags: budget,facilities,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Private Prisons Appropriation FY2027 Private Prisons received $173,541,185 in State General Funds for FY2027, including a $1,055,658 increase for Jenkins/Riverbend bed utilization. Value: 173541185.0 dollars Tags: budget,facilities,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Jenkins/Riverbend Bed Utilization Increase The SAC approved a $1,055,658 increase for Jenkins/Riverbend bed utilization under the Private Prisons program. Value: 1055658.0 dollars increase Tags: budget,facilities,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Detention Centers Appropriation FY2027 Detention Centers received $75,321,037 in state funds ($72,774,002 State General + $2,547,035 Opioid Trust) for FY2027. Value: 75321037.0 dollars Tags: budget,facilities,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Departmental Administration Appropriation FY2027 Departmental Administration received $40,014,087 in State General Funds for FY2027. Value: 40014087.0 dollars Tags: budget,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Food and Farm Operations Appropriation FY2027 Food and Farm Operations received $30,692,750 in State General Funds for FY2027, including $364,749 for 4 food service modular units. The SAC rejected the House-approved farm equipment ($850K) and food service contract increase ($4.9M). Value: 30692750.0 dollars Tags: budget,conditions,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Offender Management Appropriation FY2027 Offender Management received $58,614,564 in State General Funds for FY2027, including $257,800 for an inmate assignment system. Value: 58614564.0 dollars Tags: budget,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Transition Centers Appropriation FY2027 Transition Centers received $50,067,051 in total public funds ($49,847,398 State General + $219,653 Agency) for FY2027. Value: 50067051.0 dollars Tags: budget,reentry,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Health Benefit Rate Reduction Across All Programs Health Benefit rate reductions were applied across all GDC programs, with the largest reduction in State Prisons at $28,375,825 and Detention Centers at $3,347,325. These represent savings from renegotiated employee health benefit rates. Value: 28375825.0 dollars reduction (State Prisons) Tags: budget,staffing,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Lee Arrendale Operations Increase The SAC approved $1,542,179 for Lee Arrendale State Prison operations in the State Prisons program. Value: 1542179.0 dollars increase Tags: budget,facilities,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Modular Unit Operations Funding The SAC approved $1,760,207 for modular unit operations in State Prisons and $364,749 for 4 food service modular units under Food and Farm Operations. Value: 1760207.0 dollars (State Prisons) (vs. 364749 Food service modular units) Tags: budget,facilities,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Tablet Funding One-Time Reduction The SAC reduced tablet funding by $1,538,700 as a one-time reduction in the State Prisons program. Value: -1538700.0 dollars Tags: budget,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] CO Salary Adjustment — State Prisons Portion The largest share of the $2,000 CO salary adjustment went to State Prisons at $12,918,078, reflecting the concentration of correctional officers in state-run facilities. Value: 12918078.0 dollars Tags: budget,staffing,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] CO Salary Adjustment — Detention Centers Portion The Detention Centers CO salary adjustment was $1,680,773. Value: 1680773.0 dollars Tags: budget,staffing,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] CO Salary Adjustment — Transition Centers Portion The Transition Centers CO salary adjustment was $900,913. Value: 900913.0 dollars Tags: budget,staffing,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Inmate Assignment System Funding The SAC approved $257,800 for an inmate assignment system under the Offender Management program. Value: 257800.0 dollars Tags: budget,operations,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Fleet Mechanic Position — Administration The SAC approved $69,837 for a fleet mechanic position under Departmental Administration. Value: 69837.0 dollars Tags: budget,staffing,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Arnall Training Rent The SAC approved $14,000 for Arnall training rent under State Prisons. Value: 14000.0 dollars Tags: budget,staffing,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Food Contracts Increase — State Prisons The SAC approved $528,167 for food contracts in State Prisons. Value: 528167.0 dollars increase Tags: budget,conditions,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] LaGrange/Clayton Rent Increase The SAC approved $23,599 for LaGrange/Clayton rent increases under the Transition Centers program. Value: 23599.0 dollars increase Tags: budget,facilities,reentry Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] POST Retirement Increases Across Programs POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) retirement increases were distributed across GDC programs: Detention Centers ($275,818), Food and Farm ($5,851), State Prisons ($2,095,612), and Transition Centers ($151,718). Value: 2528999.0 dollars total Tags: budget,staffing,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Administration Health Benefit Rate Reduction The Departmental Administration program received a health benefit rate reduction of $1,584,390. Value: -1584390.0 dollars Tags: budget,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act POLICYS (8) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Private Prison Bed Expansion Rejected by SAC The Senate Appropriations Committee rejected the addition of 160 beds at Coffee Correctional Institution and 103 beds at Wheeler Correctional Institution, saving $4,227,620. The stated reason was that 'Space is not compatible with single cell needs of prison population.' Tags: budget,facilities,policy,operations Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] High School Diploma Program Cut and Directed to Virtual The SAC reduced the high school diploma program by $104,000 and directed GDC to 'explore virtual options' rather than in-person instruction. Tags: budget,policy,reentry Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Metro Reentry Programming Zeroed Out The SAC eliminated all funding for Metro Reentry programming, reducing it to $0 from the Governor's proposed $39,786. Tags: budget,reentry,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] SAC Rejected Farm Equipment and Food Service Contract Increase The SAC rejected House-approved increases of $850,000 for farm equipment and $4,900,000 for food service contract increases in the Food and Farm Operations program. Tags: budget,conditions,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] SAC Rejected Substance Abuse Treatment and Rural Jail Reimbursement The SAC rejected House-approved funding of $368,000 for residential substance abuse treatment and $1,500,000 for rural jail reimbursement in the Offender Management program. Tags: budget,drugs,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Single-Cell Capacity Study Directive The SAC included a $0 directive in Departmental Administration for a single-cell capacity study, requiring GDC to study single-cell housing needs without additional funding. Tags: policy,facilities,conditions Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] GSFIC Design Quarterly Report Directive The SAC included a $0 directive in Transition Centers requiring GSFIC (Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission) to provide quarterly design reports. Tags: policy,facilities Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Autry Peer-Led Pilot Not Continued The Autry peer-led pilot program was funded in FY2026 only and was not continued in the FY2027 approved budget. Tags: budget,policy,reentry Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act QUOTES (1) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] SAC Rationale for Rejecting Private Prison Expansion The SAC rejected 263 private prison beds stating: 'Space is not compatible with single cell needs of prison population.' This language implicitly acknowledges single-cell housing requirements, potentially related to DOJ findings or internal assessments. Date: 2026-03-24 Tags: policy,facilities,conditions Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act FINDINGS (3) ---------------------------------------- - [estimated] Surveillance-to-Rehabilitation Spending Ratio The approved FY2027 budget added approximately $22.1M in new surveillance spending while cutting $104K from education and zeroing out Metro Reentry programming. The ratio of new surveillance spending to new rehabilitation spending is effectively infinite, continuing a documented 46:1 surveillance-to-programming ratio pattern. Tags: budget,policy,reentry,operations Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Education Programs Cut While Surveillance Maintained The FY2027 approved budget cut education programs (high school diploma -$104K, Metro Reentry $0) while maintaining surveillance spending at $16.3M and adding $22.1M in new surveillance/security spending. Tags: budget,policy,reentry,operations Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act - [confirmed] Opioid Settlement Shift — Not New Spending The $8,641,839 in Opioid Settlement Trust Fund allocations represent a shift from State General Funds rather than new spending on substance abuse treatment. The State General Funds were reduced by equivalent amounts ($2,178,619 in Detention Centers and $6,094,804 in State Prisons). Tags: budget,drugs,policy Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act DATASETS (5) ---------------------------------------- # FY2027 GDC Program Appropriations (SAC Approved) State funds approved for each GDC program in the FY2027 General Appropriations Act (HB 974), SAC substitute. State funds include State General Funds and Opioid Settlement Trust Fund. Program Program Code State General Funds Opioid Settlement Trust Fund Total State Funds Federal Funds Agency Funds Total Public Funds ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Departmental Administration 107.1000 40014087 0 40014087 0 0 40014087 Detention Centers 108.1000 72774002 2547035 75321037 0 0 75321037 Food and Farm Operations 109.1000 30692750 0 30692750 0 0 30692750 Health 110.1000 426337146 0 426337146 573812 305972 427216930 Offender Management 111.1000 58614564 0 58614564 0 0 58614564 Private Prisons 112.1000 173541185 0 173541185 0 0 173541185 State Prisons 113.1000 910440149 6094804 916534953 235777 13118591 929889321 Transition Centers 114.1000 49847398 0 49847398 0 219653 50067051 # FY2027 GDC CO Salary Adjustment Distribution by Program Distribution of the $2,000 correctional officer salary adjustment across GDC programs in the SAC-approved FY2027 budget. Program CO Salary Adjustment --------------------------------------------------- Departmental Administration 15738 Detention Centers 1680773 Food and Farm Operations 53707 Health 3142 State Prisons 12918078 Transition Centers 900913 # FY2027 GDC New Surveillance/Security Spending Items Itemized new spending on surveillance, security, and intelligence functions in the FY2027 SAC-approved budget. Item Amount Funding Type ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Managed access/drone detection systems 10793600 Existing funds OWL Unit personnel 1443038 New OWL Unit technology 5521230 New Data intelligence maintenance 1750000 New Call monitoring increase 1118244 New Canine handlers (6 positions) 695018 New Managed access analysts (5 positions) 409040 New Security threat group coordinators (3 positions) 377168 New # FY2027 SAC vs Governor Proposed Budget Key Differences Key differences between the SAC-approved FY2027 budget and the Governor's proposed budget for GDC. Item Governor Proposed SAC Approved Difference --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total State Funds $1,762,069,964 $1,770,903,120 +$8,833,156 Opioid Settlement Trust Fund $0 $8,641,839 +$8,641,839 CO salary adjustment $0 ~$15,600,000 +~$15,600,000 Physical health contract increase +$47,900,000 +$32,637,565 -$15,262,435 Mental health contract increase +$1,900,000 +$12,127,034 +$10,227,034 Coffee/Wheeler private prison beds (263) +$4,227,620 $0 -$4,227,620 High school diploma program Funded -$104,000 -$104,000 Metro Reentry programming $39,786 $0 -$39,786 Residential substance abuse treatment $368,000 (House) $0 -$368,000 Farm equipment $850,000 (House) $0 -$850,000 Food service contract increase $4,900,000 (House) $0 -$4,900,000 Rural jail reimbursement $1,500,000 (House) $0 -$1,500,000 # FY2027 GDC Health Benefit Rate Reductions by Program Health benefit rate reductions applied across GDC programs in the SAC-approved FY2027 budget. Program Health Benefit Reduction ------------------------------------------------------- Departmental Administration -1584390 Detention Centers -3347325 Food and Farm Operations -79091 Health -200420 Offender Management -232782 State Prisons -28375825 Transition Centers -1857844 KEY ENTITIES (14) ---------------------------------------- - Autry State Prison [facility]: Georgia state prison with GCI shoe/boot manufacturing and garment operations. - Coffee Correctional Institution [facility]: Private prison facility in Georgia slated to add 160 beds in FY 2027. - Georgia Department of Corrections [organization]: State agency responsible for operating Georgia's prison system. Subject of federal DOJ investigation in 2022-2023 for constitutional violations including food-related deaths. (aka: GDC) - Georgia General Assembly [organization]: Georgia state legislature. Has not advanced legislation to address prison labor compensation or remove the state's slavery exception. A two-thirds vote in both chambers would be required to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. - GSFIC [organization]: Georgia agency directed to provide quarterly design reports for transition center facilities in the FY2027 budget. (aka: Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission) - HB 974 [legislation]: The General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2027 in Georgia, approved by the General Assembly on March 24, 2026 (Sine Die). The SAC substitute is the final enacted version. (aka: FY 2027G General Appropriations Act) - Jenkins Correctional Center [facility]: Private prison facility in Georgia that received $1,055,658 increase for bed utilization in FY2027. (aka: Jenkins) - Lee Arrendale State Prison [facility]: Georgia state prison where drug-coated paper was found being passed in November 2025. - Metro Reentry Program [program]: GDC reentry programming that was zeroed out ($0) in the FY2027 SAC-approved budget, down from the Governor's proposed $39,786. (aka: Metro Reentry programming) - Opioid Settlement Trust Fund [program]: Georgia trust fund created from opioid settlement proceeds. In FY2027, $8,641,839 was allocated to GDC as a funding source shift from State General Funds, not new spending. - OWL Unit [program]: GDC surveillance and tactical unit that received $6,964,268 in new funding ($1,443,038 personnel + $5,521,230 technology) in the FY2027 approved budget. - Riverbend Correctional Facility [facility]: Medium security facility operated by GEO Group with 25% recidivism rate and 66% post-release employment rate - Senate Appropriations Committee [organization]: Georgia Senate committee responsible for the substitute version of HB 974 that became the final approved FY2027 budget. (aka: SAC) - Wheeler Correctional Institution [facility]: Private prison facility in Georgia slated to add 103 beds in FY 2027. SOURCES (1) ---------------------------------------- - HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute to the General Appropriations Act, Georgia General Assembly by Senate Appropriations Committee (2026-03-24) [legislation, primary]