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The House of Reps’ FY 2011 budget proposal cuts the Department of Human Services budget by an additional $11.4 million over the governor’s January proposal. DHS now faces a $33 million cut in state General Funds for FY 2011 compared to this year’s enacted budget. This is a 6.1 percent… [Read more]

The House of Reps passed bills to raise nearly $300 million in new revenues and improve tax collections. However, they continued to pass long-term tax cuts ($380 million a year) and to disregard other tax options, such as reassessing existing tax exemptions. Download the PDF.

Georgia’s Medicaid program needs nearly $1 billion for FY 2011 and FY 2012. This shortfall is not due to a program out of control, but rather is a result of the steep revenue decline from the current recession. One option lawmakers can pursue is enacting House Bill 307, which generates… [Read more]

Capital gains tax preferences are costly, inequitable, and ineffective. They deprive states of millions of dollars in needed funds, benefit almost exclusively the very wealthiest members of society, and fail to promote economic growth in the manner their proponents claim. Download the PDF.

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… [Read more]

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… [Read more]

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… [Read more]

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.