Reports

State leaders have already cut nearly $2 billion in spending since before the recession, a truly massive blow to the state’s economic health and Governor Deal has signed four bills into law that will create an approximately $85 million shortfall in the next two fiscal years. Although some of the policy… [Read more]

The Georgia Budget & Policy Institute’s new report Georgia’s Income Tax Essential for State’s Economy and Families examines Georgia’s income tax, provides a comprehensive overview of the economies of no-income-tax states, and outlines why income taxes are essential to Georgia’s well-being.
According to GBPI’s report, there is no evidence that… [Read more]

To meet 21st century business demands, Georgia must get more students into colleges, universities and technical schools, and make sure they graduate with skills that will help them, their families, and the state secure a prosperous future.
This policy report examines lottery sales and HOPE benefits across Georgia’s 159 counties.… [Read more]

Health Care Law Expands Coverage, Saves State Money
Since March 2010, a variety of provisions of the Affordable Care Act have been implemented that expand health insurance coverage to thousands of Georgians, particularly young adults and Georgians previously denied coverage. It has also saved the state money — at least… [Read more]

Senate Resolution 20, The Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR),  is flawed legislation that would amend the Georgia State Constitution to limit the growth of state revenues and expenditures to a formula of population plus government inflation growth. Colorado, the only state to implement TABOR, has since suspended it because it… [Read more]

In the final days of the 2012 legislative session, the General Assembly passed an omnibus tax bill, HB 386,that falls short of the comprehensive tax reform Georgia needs to bring the tax system into the 21st century. While it exhibits some prudence by acknowledging the importance of revenues, HB 386… [Read more]

House leaders deserve significant credit for their responsibility on tax policy so far this session. If in the remaining legislative days the Senate passes six tax bills passed by the House, this would be the first time in years that Georgia avoids a significant revenue hit.
The landscape could still… [Read more]

Overall, the House FY 2013 Appropriations Bill, HB 742, referred to as the House FY 2013 Budget contains relatively minor adjustments to the governor’s budget proposal. Many of the adjustments restore some of the additional cuts as well as replace some of the federal TANF funding cuts with state funds. Download… [Read more]

The Georgia Lottery has provided more than $13 billion toward education programs in Georgia. The  program has enabled more than 1.4 million students to pursue higher education through the Helping Outstanding Pupil’s Educationally (HOPE) Program and provided 1.1 million four-year-olds access to early childhood education through Georgia’s Pre-K Program.  Today, the… [Read more]

The governor’s budget recommendations for FY 2013 increase state General Funds to the Department of Community Health (DCH); however, the increase is misleading. The bulk of the new funding restores funding originally diverted from the DCH budget in FY 2011 and FY 2012.
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