Years of employer tax cuts left Georgia unprepared for a recession and high unemployment; now the state is borrowing $721 million from the federal government to meet its obligation. This policy brief provides an update on Georgia’s insolvent unemployment trust fund, as well as recommendations for how the state can… [Read more]

Categories: Federal Budget & Taxes, Home Tab 3, Library, Policy Areas, Reports | Comments (4)

Georgia has less available federal and state Maintenance of Effort (MOE) funds for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) due to a decreasing federal unobligated balance; cuts to the federal TANF Supplemental Grant; and, an increased reliance on private funds for TANF MOE. Download the… [Read more]

Categories: Economic Security, Library, Policy Areas, Reports, State Budget | Comments (4)

The policy brief provides an analysis of the governor’s proposed plans for reforming Georgia’s HOPE and Pre-K programs, including the importance of HOPE reform and opportunities to strengthen the proposed plan. Download the PDF.
 
Related Materials:
HOPE for Whom?  For Some… [Read more]

Georgia currently has an insolvent unemployment trust fund. This policy brief examines what payments are due in 2011 for Georgia’s outstanding loan, the consequences of not paying, and options for returning to solvency. Download the PDF.
 
Related Materials:
Georgia’s Unemployment Trust Fund:… [Read more]

Categories: Economic Security, Federal Budget & Taxes, Library, Policy Areas, Reports, State Budget | Comments (2)

This report looks at Senate Resolution 20, which limits spending growth by setting a cap on the amount of revenue Georgia can budget each year. Under Senate Resolution 20’s formula, the state budget can be equal to either of the prior two years’ spending levels or can increase over the… [Read more]

Highlights of the FY 2012 budgets for the Department of Community Health and Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities.  Download the PDF.

Categories: Health Care, Library, Policy Areas, Reports, State Budget | Comments (2)

Tax breaks are enacted each year and, once in the tax code, remain there without evaluation or scrutiny. These tax preferences shrink the tax base and many reduce fairness by shifting taxes onto other businesses and individuals who do not receive the exemption or cause lawmakers to reduce state services.… [Read more]

The Amended Fiscal Year 2010 budget should contain the first state reimbursements to certain schools and counties for property tax exemptions provided in the Forest Land Protection Act of 2008. Without these funds, several rural school districts face another loss of revenue, beyond the cuts to formula funding experienced across… [Read more]

Data on dollars spent and Georgians helped to date with a county-by-county breakdown. Download the PDF.