Blog Budget and Taxes Policy Areas Income Tax Legislation Threatens Georgia’s Stellar Bond Rating March 14, 2016 / January 15, 2020 by Russell Hinton | 5 Comments on Income Tax Legislation Threatens Georgia’s Stellar Bond Rating Managing Georgia’s finances in a responsible way is one of the most sober and sacred responsibilities of state lawmakers. Families and businesses in Georgia’s largest cities and smallest towns can’t thrive unless lawmakers are able to raise sufficient tax revenue, or to borrow money at decent rates. Our elected state officials need financial flexibility to […] Read more » Bond rating State Budget Tax cut
Blog Budget and Taxes Policy Areas Senate Adds $10 M Startup Fund, Boosts Nurse Pay in Revised Budget Today March 10, 2016 / January 15, 2020 by Timothy Sweeney The Georgia Senate passed the latest version of the state’s $23.7 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts in July, with the biggest addition a $10 million injection into the Invest Georgia economic development program. For the most part, senators only tinkered with the spending plan passed by the House of Representatives in February, […] Read more » State Budget
Author Health Justice Library Policy Areas Reports Timothy Sweeney Tax Credit for Contributions to Rural Hospitals: Updated Bill Analysis March 10, 2016 / January 15, 2020 by Timothy Sweeney The Georgia House of Representatives has passed a $100 million tax credit program for individual and corporate donations to hospitals in rural or nearly-rural Georgia communities. House Bill 919 is designed to create private investment incentives for rural hospitals to help shore up their finances. The flawed legislation contains very few reporting requirements or guidelines […] Read more » Medicaid Expansion Rural hospitals
Author Budget and Taxes Library Policy Areas Reports Wesley Tharpe Adding Up 2016: Tax Breaks, Income Tax Cuts Could Harm Georgia Finances March 9, 2016 / January 15, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe A variety of tax bills await further consideration by state legislators as the Georgia General Assembly enters its final few weeks of the 2016 session. There are 11 tax bills affecting state revenues still alive after Crossover Day, the point where bills must clear at least one legislative chamber to have a good chance at […] Read more » Adding Up the Fiscal Notes Budget & Taxes Income Tax State Budget tax cuts Wesley Tharpe
Blog Budget and Taxes Policy Areas Tax cut proposal to benefit wealthiest Georgians, jeopardize funding for schools, roads and more March 4, 2016 / January 15, 2020 by GBPI Admin | 1 Comment on Tax cut proposal to benefit wealthiest Georgians, jeopardize funding for schools, roads and more Twin income tax cut proposals that promise a big tax break for wealthy Georgians and little for everyone else are careening toward legislative approval this month. If enacted, House Bill 238 and Senate Resolution 756 will stymie Georgia’s investment in quality public schools, hospitals, services for children and seniors, and more for years to come. […] Read more » State Budget State Taxes tax cuts tax shift
Author Blog Cash and Safety Net Inclusive Economy for Immigrants Melissa Johnson Policy Areas Drivers’ ID Bill Would Squander Big Bucks to Target Immigrants February 26, 2016 / April 2, 2020 by Melissa Johnson A Senate bill threatens to spend hundreds of thousands of Georgia taxpayer dollars to compel work-eligible immigrants to carry both a drivers’ privilege card and a special identification card. If this bill passes, Georgia is obligated to waste effort and expense to address unproven problems while it further stigmatizes immigrants. Senate Bill 6, up for […] Read more »
Author Blog Budget and Taxes Policy Areas Wesley Tharpe Threat to Georgia’s Finances Gains Steam as Constitutional Amendment to Slash State Income Tax Nears Crossover Day February 26, 2016 / January 17, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe Most Georgia families stand to lose if twin proposals to slash the state income tax stay on track to pass the General Assembly this year. Midnight Monday Feb. 29, or crossover day, is the target for supporters of a constitutional amendment to drastically shift the state away from a balanced revenue system that consistently delivers […] Read more » State Budget State Taxes
Author Budget and Taxes Library Policy Areas Reports Wesley Tharpe Senate Resolution 756 threatens to disrupt Georgia’s long-term finances February 26, 2016 / January 17, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe Senate Resolution 756 threatens to undermine Georgia’s ability to remain an attractive state for families and businesses. Passing the amendment creates a rigid formula in Georgia’s constitution that inflicts a series of never-ending automatic revenue cuts based on arbitrary targets. This formula is harmful to Georgia’s growth, especially if coupled with House Bill 238’s proposal to […] Read more » Budget & Taxes Income Tax State Budget State Taxes tax cuts Wesley Tharpe
Author Budget and Taxes Library Policy Areas Reports Wesley Tharpe Slashing Income Tax Delivers Meager Benefit to Most, Jeopardizes Public Services February 26, 2016 / January 17, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe Bill Analysis: House Bill 238 (LC 34 4895S) Georgia lawmakers are considering a pair of proposals that offer a miniscule tax cut to the majority of Georgia families and a massive benefit to the highest-income individuals who need it least, while jeopardizing lawmakers’ ability to meet the needs of a rapidly growing state. The first […] Read more » Bill Analysis Budget & Taxes State Budget State Taxes tax cuts taxes
Author Blog Budget and Taxes Inclusive Economy for Immigrants Policy Areas Wesley Tharpe Sensible Reforms Can Boost Undocumented Immigrants’ Tax Contribution February 25, 2016 / April 2, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe Undocumented immigrants in Georgia pay a significant share of state and local taxes each year and providing those families a path to legal status can increase their tax payments even more. That’s the key takeaway from a new analysis from the nonprofit, nonpartisan Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), which takes a close look […] Read more » Budget & Taxes State Taxes taxes Undocumented immigrants