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
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 Claire Suggs Higher Education Library Policy Areas Reports Overview: 2017 Fiscal Year Budget for Higher Education February 17, 2016 / January 17, 2020 by Claire Suggs Gov. Nathan Deal’s proposed budget of $2.47 billion for the state’s two postsecondary systems includes money intended to help increase faculty salaries, which trail those of competing neighbor states. Still, state spending per student in the university system remains far below earlier years, continuing the financial pressures that yielded tuition hikes in recent years. Read […] Read more » Budget Budget & Taxes Claire Suggs Higher Education
Author Claire Suggs K-12 Education Library Policy Areas Reports Another Tax Credit for Private School Scholarships February 16, 2016 / January 17, 2020 by Claire Suggs Georgia lawmakers are considering legislation to create a new tax credit for individuals and corporations that donate to organizations that provide scholarships to K-12 students from low-income families to attend private schools. The proposal, House Bill 865, would establish the Building Educational Success Together (BEST) program, which allows for $25 million in total new tax […] Read more » Education K-12 SSO tax credit
Author Cash and Safety Net Library Melissa Johnson Policy Areas Reports Overview: 2017 Fiscal Year Budget for Human Services February 11, 2016 / January 15, 2020 by Melissa Johnson Services for Georgia’s Vulnerable Get Needed Lift Gov. Nathan Deal’s proposed $634 million Department of Human Services budget for the 2017 fiscal year marks a clear change in direction after years of cuts and public criticism of the agency’s ability to protect and assist Georgia’s most vulnerable children and families. The spending plan adds substantial […] Read more » Budget Overview Department of Human Services Economic Security FY2017 Safety Net
Author Fact Sheets Library Policy Areas Wesley Tharpe Worker Justice Better Pay for Honest Work Brief February 9, 2016 / January 15, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe Download our latest brief on the state minimum wage and expanding Georgia’s middle class. In two pages, this document outlines how raising Georgia’s minimum wage can strengthen the state’s economy. Download PDF. Read more »
Author Claire Suggs K-12 Education Library Policy Areas Reports Overview: 2017 Fiscal Year Budget for Lottery-Funded Programs February 4, 2016 / January 15, 2020 by Claire Suggs Gov. Nathan Deal’s proposed budget of nearly $1.05 billion for the state’s lottery-funded programs adds money for needed enhancements to the Pre-Kindergarten program and financial aid for technical college students but falls short of meeting many families’ needs. The nearly $358 million allotted for Pre-K provides money to raise teachers’ salaries, and the $689 million […] Read more » Claire Suggs education budget HOPE Scholarship Pre-K
Health Justice Library Policy Areas Reports Timothy Sweeney Overview: 2017 Budget for Department of Community Health February 2, 2016 / January 15, 2020 by Timothy Sweeney The proposed budget for the 2017 fiscal year starting July 1, 2016 directs $2.59 billion from the general fund to the Department of Community Health, excluding money for attached agencies. This is an increase of $157 million, or 6.5 percent, compared to the 2016 budget, though $46.5 million of that is due to the transfer […] Read more » Department of Community Health Tim Sweeney
