Fact Sheets
Spending Cuts Harm Georgia’s Economy More Than Targeted Tax Increases
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.
Cutting Education Is NOT the Only Option
Education comprises more than 50 percent of state spending; therefore, if lawmakers refuse to add new revenues to the state budget, the likely consequences for years to come are: larger class sizes in K-12 schools, less school days for some K-12 schools, more adjunct faculty at colleges and universities instead… [Read more]
Deep Cuts in the Frontline
The governor’s proposed state budget cuts for fiscal year 2011 total $116.5 million, or 18.2 percent, of the Department of Human Services’ (DHS) budget. Download the PDF.
Why Revenues are Falling and What Georgia Can do About It
The state budget deficit is due to a lack of revenues. State revenue collections, as a percentage of personal income, have declined dramatically over the past 10 years. As Georgians’ incomes have increased, the amount the state collects has not kept pace.Without new revenues, Georgia is facing an additional $2.6… [Read more]
The Only Solution to Georgia’s Multi-Billion Dollar Shortfall Is a Balanced Approach
Georgia’s budget crisis is not due to funding the wrong priorities or waste and inefficiency. Georgia has a revenue problem. To avoid devastating cuts to such vital government services as education, healthcare, and public safety, Georgia needs a balanced approach to the budget crisis, an approach that includes additional revenues,… [Read more]
Deep Cuts are NOT Georgia’s Only Option
Using a more balanced approach to budgeting would reduce the cuts, such as budgeting additional revenues through increasing the cigarette tax,enacting a new top income tax rate, improving tax collections, suspending or ending tax breaks, increasing fees, and closing corporate loopholes. Without new revenues, Georgia faces an additional $2.6 billion… [Read more]
Rebuilding Georgia’s Rainy Day Fund is Key to Long-Term Budget Stability
Over the next three to five years, the state needs between $1.5 billion and $2 billion in surpluses to rebuild the Revenue Shortfall Reserve (RSR). In order to do so, lawmakers should take a balanced approach to state budgeting that includes additional revenues. Download the PDF.
Governor’s Proposed Budget Cuts Vital Eligibility Workers
The governor’s proposed Department of Human Services (DHS) budget cut 138 eligibility workers in FY 2011. Eligibility workers process applications for Georgians in need of “safety net” supports. Georgia should use new federal funds to increase the number of eligibility caseworkers. Download the PDF.
