Author: Taifa Smith Butler

Taifa Smith Butler is president and CEO of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, where she leads and inspires the GBPI team to accomplish the organization’s mission and vision to improve economic opportunity for all Georgians.

Looking Ahead: A People-First Agenda for Georgia

Blog Budget and Taxes Taifa Smith Butler

Looking Ahead: A People-First Agenda for Georgia

/ by Taifa Smith Butler

While the final votes are being tallied, one thing is clear: this election year saw unprecedented engagement. Voters forced attention to issues at the heart of the debate including health care, education and economic opportunity. These subjects were top of mind for nearly all voters regardless of party affiliation, zip code, race, ethnicity or gender. In January, […]

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Georgians Say Yes to Our People-First Agenda

Blog Budget and Taxes Taifa Smith Butler

Georgians Say Yes to Our People-First Agenda

/ by Taifa Smith Butler

The public has spoken. It’s time to invest in Georgia’s people. Georgians struggling to make it to the middle class—not to mention stay in it—face unprecedented headwinds in today’s economy. Stagnant wages are stifling the middle class, and families are steadily losing buying power as living costs continue to rise. The lack of access to […]

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Georgia Budget Primer 2019

Budget and Taxes Budget Primer Cash and Safety Net Health Justice K-12 Education Reports Worker Justice

Georgia Budget Primer 2019

/ by Taifa Smith Butler

Download PDF Click on the links below to learn about different policy areas of the 2019 budget. State Budget K-12 Education Higher Education Health Human Services   Welcome to GBPI’s 2019 Budget Primer Georgia plans to spend $26.2 billion in state funds raised through taxes and fees for the 2019 fiscal year. The budget plan […]

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New State Budget Marks Progress, Leaves Important Work Undone

Blog Budget and Taxes Taifa Smith Butler

New State Budget Marks Progress, Leaves Important Work Undone

/ by Taifa Smith Butler

Georgia’s new annual budget signed into law by Gov. Nathan Deal last week marks a positive step forward on education and a few other crucial issues, yet also falls short of addressing some of the state’s most pressing needs. The approved spending plan for the 2019 budget year that begins July 1, 2018 includes a […]

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Overview: 2019 Fiscal Year Budget for Human Services

Cash and Safety Net Reports Taifa Smith Butler

Overview: 2019 Fiscal Year Budget for Human Services

/ by Taifa Smith Butler

Foster Care Services Get Increases for Foster Parents, Child Placement Agencies Gov. Nathan Deal’s proposed $788 million Department of Human Services budget for the 2019 fiscal year includes new support to meet the growing needs in the state’s foster care system and to help ensure the safety and protection of Georgia’s most vulnerable children. The […]

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Make a Billion Investment in Georgia’s Youth, Workers, Families and Communities

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Make a $1 Billion Investment in Georgia’s Youth, Workers, Families and Communities

/ by Taifa Smith Butler

As published by SaportaReport You’ve no doubt heard many times Georgia is the No. 1 place to do business, but what if the state can also be the top place to settle and raise a family? That is the audacious vision the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute unveiled at its Jan. 25 policy conference under […]

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Overview of Georgia’s 2019 Fiscal Year Budget

Budget and Taxes Health Justice Higher Education K-12 Education Reports

Overview of Georgia’s 2019 Fiscal Year Budget

/ by Taifa Smith Butler

The $26 billion state budget proposed by Gov. Nathan Deal for the 2019 fiscal year starting July 1, 2018 lays out Georgia’s spending priorities for the coming year. It represents a $1.03 billion increase in total state spending over the 2018 budget approved last year. The budget is based on a very lean estimated growth […]

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Help Rural Georgians’ Health and Pocketbook

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Help Rural Georgians’ Health and Pocketbook

/ by Taifa Smith Butler | 1 Comment on Help Rural Georgians’ Health and Pocketbook

Originally posted in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Lawmakers appear poised to try something new to help struggling communities in rural Georgia and our neighbors from Blue Ridge to Thomasville are no doubt glad to receive the attention. Ideas floated recently by a state House study committee range from expanding broadband access to paying professionals to relocate […]

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Albany, Georgia: Good people, great community, tremendous needs

Blog Budget and Taxes Community Impact Higher Education Taifa Smith Butler

Albany, Georgia: Good people, great community, tremendous needs

/ by Taifa Smith Butler

Ursula looked me in my eyes and said “When you go back to Atlanta, the first thing that needs to come out of your mouth when you talk to them [policymakers] is that they need to increase the minimum wage.” She was just one of many students the GBPI team heard from at Family Literacy […]

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Georgia’s Revenue Increase Trails Needs of Growing Population

Blog Budget and Taxes Taifa Smith Butler

Georgia’s Revenue Increase Trails Needs of Growing Population

/ by Taifa Smith Butler

For most Georgians July 1, 2017 was just another steamy summer day in the south. For state lawmakers and agency leaders, it marked the beginning of a new year, the annual restart of operating plans to track budget expenses against carefully prepared plans. Meanwhile, department heads close the books on the state’s 2017 fiscal year […]

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