Alan Essig Author Budget and Taxes Featured Library Reports Overview of Georgia’s 2015 Fiscal Year Budget January 21, 2014 / January 16, 2020 by Alan Essig The $20.8 billion budget proposed for Georgia’s 2015 fiscal year projects general fund revenue growth of 4.3 percent, or $807 million more than the recently revised 2014 revenue estimate. State revenues are back to pre-recession levels, but the proposed budget still incorporates in its base several billion dollars in program cuts made during the past […] Read more » State Budget
Alan Essig Author Blog Budget and Taxes New State Budget Plan Takes Small Steps to Repair Damage from Years of Cuts January 17, 2014 / January 16, 2020 by Alan Essig | 3 Comments on New State Budget Plan Takes Small Steps to Repair Damage from Years of Cuts Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal Wednesday unveiled a state budget for the 2015 fiscal year that includes $807 million in new revenues. That money will be allocated for: Allocation Amount Partial Restoration of K-12 Education Formula Austerity Cut $314 million Medicaid and PeachCare Growth $170 million K-12 and Higher Education Formula Growth $151 million State Employees/Teachers […] Read more » State Budget
Alan Essig Author Blog K-12 Education K-12 education funding a top priority January 13, 2014 / January 16, 2020 by Alan Essig | 1 Comment on K-12 education funding a top priority As published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on January 12, 2014. Georgia’s leaders are talking about increasing spending on public schools for the first time since the Great Recession forced drastic state budget cuts. Those cuts continue to prompt local districts to furlough teachers, increase class sizes and shorten school calendars. Some news reports in advance […] Read more »
Alan Essig Author Blog General Assembly Set to Race Through Budget Hearings January 9, 2014 / January 16, 2020 by Alan Essig By all accounts we can look forward to a historically fast Georgia legislative session this year. The governor’s 2014 State of the State address is scheduled for Jan.15 at 11 a.m. He will propose midpoint changes to the state budget passed last spring, as well as a new budget for next year. The joint legislative […] Read more »
Alan Essig Author Blog GBPI to Kick Off 10th Anniversary Year With a Bang Jan. 8 November 22, 2013 / January 15, 2020 by Alan Essig The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute’s staff worked hard the past ten years to tell stories with numbers, showing Georgia what is possible. It is possible to improve our education system and lift Georgians out of poverty. It is within our reach to make health care accessible and affordable for all and create a state […] Read more »
Alan Essig Author Blog Budget and Taxes Georgia should tally cost, benefit of business tax breaks November 15, 2013 / January 15, 2020 by Alan Essig | 2 Comments on Georgia should tally cost, benefit of business tax breaks The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute’s Executive Director Alan Essig says the state should take a more business-like approach to decide whether corporate tax breaks are worthwhile in an Atlanta Journal-Constitution op-ed. As published in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. Georgia gives out hundreds of millions of dollars in business tax breaks every year with little rhyme […] Read more » State Taxes
Alan Essig Author Blog Budget and Taxes Official 2013 Tally is in, Georgia Rainy Day Fund Still Wanting September 25, 2013 / January 15, 2020 by Alan Essig | 2 Comments on Official 2013 Tally is in, Georgia Rainy Day Fund Still Wanting Georgia’s surplus from the 2013 is relatively small, as it turns out, slightly rebuilding the state’s reserves, while doing nothing to free up additional money for next year’s budget. That is the key take away from the State Accounting Office’s final report showing the official 2013 revenue surplus and the preliminary numbers for the Revenue […] Read more » State Budget
Alan Essig Author Blog Budget and Taxes Governor’s Tax Break Review Process Needs Rethinking September 6, 2013 / January 15, 2020 by Alan Essig State tax breaks should be evaluated on a regular basis to ensure they’re efficiently achieving Georgia’s goals, but a new review process arranged at the behest of Gov. Nathan Deal is not the right way to go about it. The new review process is taking place under the guise of something called the Georgia Competitiveness […] Read more » State Budget
Alan Essig Author Blog Budget and Taxes Labor Day Reminder: Educated Workers Drive the Economy August 30, 2013 / January 15, 2020 by Alan Essig A new study by the Economic Policy Institute once again confirms what should be obvious; a well-educated work force is the key to a state’s prosperity. Major findings of the report include: Overwhelmingly, high-wage states are states with a well-educated workforce. States can build a strong foundation for economic success and shared prosperity by investing […] Read more » State Budget
Alan Essig Author Budget and Taxes Revenue Growth Makes State Budget Woes Less Worse July 17, 2013 / January 15, 2020 by Alan Essig Although Georgia’s revenue growth trend is positive, the state still faces significant budget problems. First, some good news: According to a preliminary report of the Georgia Office of the Treasurer, revenue from all sources, including those collected by the Georgia Department of Revenue, grew 5.9 percent in the 2013 fiscal year that ended June 30th. […] Read more » Alan Essig Budget Budget & Taxes Budget Cuts Governor Deal State Budget
