What is the maximum spending limit for the General Assembly?

The maximum spending limit for the General Assembly is tied to the concept of a balanced budget. In Georgia, the state constitution mandates that the budget must be balanced, which means that the total amount of proposed spending cannot exceed the anticipated revenue for that fiscal year. This requirement ensures fiscal responsibility and aims to prevent the state from accumulating excessive debt.

The balanced budget provision prevents the General Assembly from authorizing expenditures that exceed the available revenue, thus maintaining financial stability and accountability in government spending. This principle reflects a commitment to sound fiscal management, ensuring that the state only spends what it is able to collect in revenue, thereby avoiding deficits that could lead to financial difficulties in the future.

The other options—debt ceiling, operational expenses, and project funding limits—do not encapsulate the overarching restriction that the budget must balance against the expected revenue, making the balanced budget the most accurate answer in relation to the spending limit for the General Assembly.