Georgia officials agree to spend $100 million on Hurricane Helene aid
for farms and forestry
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[November 02, 2024]
By JEFF AMY
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia's state government is diverting $100 million to
spend on loans to farmers and cleanup after Hurricane Helene.
The Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission voted unanimously
Friday to spend the money, which had been set aside for construction
projects or paying off existing debt.
Officials last month estimated that the storm, which caused extensive
damage in the eastern half of the state after a Sept. 26 landfall in
Florida, caused $6.46 billion in economic losses in the state's
agriculture and forestry industries.
Cotton, pecan and chicken farmers took severe losses, as did owners of
private timberlands. Lt Gov. Burt Jones and others have called the
damage a “generational loss.”
The Georgia Development Authority, a state agency that lends money to
farmers, will get $75 million to provide disaster relief loans to
farmers and associated businesses in the agricultural industry. The
other $25 million will be spent to clean up timber losses and other
debris, said Garrison Douglas, a spokesperson for Gov. Brian Kemp.
Because Georgia has been flush with surplus cash, it has been paying for
construction projects using cash, instead of the traditional method of
selling bonds to borrow money. The $100 million was being held for
future spending, but it hadn't been allotted to any project that is
already underway, Douglas said.
Because Georgia ended last year with a $2 billion surplus, lawmakers may
be able to replace the $100 million when they amend the current budget
during the 2025 legislative session that begins in January.
The state did not spend similar money after 2018's Hurricane Michael.
Helene's damage to agriculture has been estimated as more than twice as
costly as Michael. The earlier storm was followed by a federal fight
over aid that delayed help to farmers. Georgia itself spent more than
$470 million on loans and recovery after Michael.
“This is something we learned we could do,” Douglas said of the $100
million. Kemp and other state leaders say they will consider additional
relief both when the General Assembly meets in January, as well as
through administrative measurers before then.
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Vehicles move slowly around trees that have fallen after Hurricane
Helene moved through the area, Sept. 27, 2024, in Valdosta, Ga. (AP
Photo/Mike Stewart, File)
“We’ll continue to work with stakeholders on all levels to direct
resources and support to the hardworking Georgians devastated by
this storm,” Kemp said in a statement Friday.
Kemp, Georgia state House Speaker Jon Burns and others have been
urging Congress to act quickly on a relief package for Hurricanes
Helene and Milton. They are asking Congress to give block grants to
states that the states can then give to farmers for recovery
purposes. Burns is urging similar block grants that states could
spend to repair damaged infrastructure and help private businesses
and citizens.
“This measure will provide necessary financial relief to farmers and
foresters as we continue to work alongside our federal partners to
secure every available asset and resource for the Georgians impacted
by this disaster,” Burns said in a statement.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Thursday that it has
already spent $1.3 billion on direct aid to people following Helene
and Hurricane Milton. FEMA has spend more than $1.1 billion on
debris removal and emergency protective measures.
Georgia's government itself can't give direct aid to people and
private businesses because its state constitution bans what it calls
gratuities — what most people would call gifts. Georgia Agribusiness
Council President Will Bentley told a state Senate committee on
Monday that a constitutional amendment is needed to allow direct
disaster aid.
Besides Kemp, Burns and Jones, other commission members who voted
for the spending included state Auditor Greg Griffin, Attorney
General Chris Carr, Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper and state
Treasurer Steve McCoy.
The Georgia Development Authority is scheduled to meet Monday in
Macon to begin spending the $100 million.
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