Georgia’s Tobacco Revenue is likely to more than double if HB 39 passes, despite declining sales without new revenues, Georgia is facing multi-billion dollar deficits in FY 2011 and FY 2012. The state is already experiencing deep cuts to essential
Georgia Has Many Revenue Options Available: Lawmakers should avoid harming Georgia’s economy more by slashing vital services and decimating state government. Download the PDF.
Lawmakers should close the deficit and protect local economies by raising more revenues: “It is important not to crush state budgets by relying solely on spending cuts,” said Zandi of Moody’s Economy.com. Download the PDF.
Education comprises more than 50 percent of state spending; therefore, if lawmakers refuse to add new revenues to the state budget, the likely consequences for years to come are: larger class sizes in K-12 schools, less school days for some
The governor’s proposed state budget cuts for fiscal year 2011 total $116.5 million, or 18.2 percent, of the Department of Human Services’ (DHS) budget. Download the PDF.
The state budget deficit is due to a lack of revenues. State revenue collections, as a percentage of personal income, have declined dramatically over the past 10 years. As Georgians’ incomes have increased, the amount the state collects has not
Georgia’s budget crisis is not due to funding the wrong priorities or waste and inefficiency. Georgia has a revenue problem. To avoid devastating cuts to such vital government services as education, healthcare, and public safety, Georgia needs a balanced approach
Using a more balanced approach to budgeting would reduce the cuts, such as budgeting additional revenues through increasing the cigarette tax,enacting a new top income tax rate, improving tax collections, suspending or ending tax breaks, increasing fees, and closing corporate
Over the next three to five years, the state needs between $1.5 billion and $2 billion in surpluses to rebuild the Revenue Shortfall Reserve (RSR). In order to do so, lawmakers should take a balanced approach to state budgeting that
The governor’s proposed Department of Human Services (DHS) budget cut 138 eligibility workers in FY 2011. Eligibility workers process applications for Georgians in need of “safety net” supports. Georgia should use new federal funds to increase the number of eligibility
The Georgia Budget & Policy Institute works to advance lasting solutions that expand economic opportunity and well-being for all Georgians.
Georgia Budget & Policy Institute
