Governor Perdue recently ordered three percent more in cuts to the Department of Human Services (DHS), which is charged with protecting the most vulnerable Georgians, such as abused children and the elderly. Download the PDF.

More than 1 million Georgia taxpayers claimed the Low Income Tax Credit in 2007, receiving $29 million in credits. If legislators eliminate the refundable portion of the credit, they will be cutting the Low Income Tax Credit by two-thirds, lowering the total credits to low-income Georgians by $21.8 million, according to the fiscal note to the bill. Download the PDF.

Georgia’s Tobacco Revenue Is Likely to More Than Double if HB 39 Passes, Despite Declining Sales Without new revenues, Georgia is facing multi-billion dollar deficits in FY 2011 and FY 2012. The state is already experiencing deep cuts to essential services. Lawmakers Should Pass House Bill 39 as Part of a Balanced Approach to Addressing the Deficit. Download the PDF.

Georgia is one of a few states that allows a deduction for state income taxes for filers who itemize. Repealing it would bring in an estimated $450 million, which in K-12 education alone, could have prevented the six furlough days and additional cuts to the education funding formula in the amended budget. Repealing it prevents the current inequitable decrease in the effective tax rate for Georgia taxpayers who itemize compared to those who do not. Download the PDF.

Georgia Has Many Revenue Options Available: Lawmakers should avoid harming Georgia’s economy more by slashing vital services and decimating state government. Download the PDF.

Lawmakers should close the deficit and protect local economies by raising more revenues: “It is important not to crush state budgets by relying solely on spending cuts,” said Zandi of Moody’s Economy.com. Download the PDF.