Criminal Legal System Reform Ray Khalfani Reports Regressive Revenue Perpetuates Poverty: Why Georgia’s Fines and Fees Need Immediate Reform December 6, 2022 / December 6, 2022 by Ray Khalfani Introduction Georgia is the number one jurisdiction in the world for percentage of population under correctional control.[1] This has less to do with protecting public safety and more to do with a state and local criminal legal system that criminalizes poverty. One mechanism by which the state of Georgia and its localities do this is […] Read more » court Criminal Legal Systems driver's licenses fees fines judicial order prison probation revenue
Blog Budget and Taxes Daniel Kanso, PhD With Record Surplus, Georgia Stands at a Crossroads Ahead of Pivotal Budget Session August 2, 2022 / August 1, 2022 by Daniel Kanso, PhD | 1 Comment on With Record Surplus, Georgia Stands at a Crossroads Ahead of Pivotal Budget Session Last month, Georgia’s Department of Revenue released its report of unaudited tax collections for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, which ended on June 30, indicating that the state will once again run a surplus that leaves it with a record level of cash on hand and a full Revenue Shortfall Reserve (RSR) that acts as the […] Read more » Budget Budget & Taxes revenue Revenue Shortfall Reserve surplus
Criminal Legal System Reform Ray Khalfani Reports Unjust Revenue from an Imbalanced Criminal Legal System: How Georgia’s Fines and Fees Worsen Racial Inequity December 16, 2021 / December 17, 2021 by Ray Khalfani Key Takeaways: Georgia’s poor governance of fines and fees revenue practices has allowed many economically underperforming localities to over-rely on fines and fees revenue, significantly contributing to Georgia having the highest probation rate in the country. Of the more than 430,000 Georgians who were on probation in 2018, nearly 40 percent of them were on […] Read more » Criminal Legal Systems driver's licenses fees fines revenue
Inclusive Economy for Immigrants Reports Stephanie Angel Green-Light Georgia Driver’s Licenses for All Immigrants January 25, 2021 / October 13, 2026 by Stephanie Angel Download PDF Key Takeaways: Expanded access to a driver’s card promotes family unity and enhances road safety. GBPI projects that approximately 165,000 Georgia immigrants could benefit from expanded access to driving privileges. During the first three years of implementation, the state could gain almost $17 million in revenue from driver’s card fees, motor […] Read more » immig immigration revenue
GBPI In The News Clean Slate would be a boon for many Georgians July 20, 2020 / March 12, 2021 by Caitlin Highland When the sunset on Gov. Nathan Deal’s administration, many believed that Georgia’s criminal justice reform era had ended, but it appears that the Peach State may be getting its second wind. […] Consider this: According to the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, “Nearly 600,000 Georgians are living with a felony conviction — one in nine […] Read more » Criminal Justice Reform revenue Unemployment
GBPI In The News Georgia Lottery transfers $1.23B for education in fiscal year 2020 July 16, 2020 / July 17, 2020 by Alex Welch The Georgia Lottery collected $30 million more for education in fiscal year 2020 than the previous fiscal year despite the economic downturn caused by the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the Georgia Lottery Act for Education, net proceeds from the Georgia Lottery help support educational programs in the state. […] A little less than […] Read more » Budget COVID-19 Higher Education K-12 Lottery revenue
GBPI In The News Considerable action on health bills puts cap on interrupted session June 28, 2020 / June 30, 2020 by Caitlin Highland State Rep. David Knight had a triumphant look Friday when talking about his quest for more oversight and restrictions on the PBM industry. Pharmacy Benefit Managers are basically corporate middlemen between health insurers or large employers and drugmakers in handling pharmaceutical benefits. The Georgia General Assembly approved a group of bills in recent days to […] Read more » Budget health-care Laura Harker revenue Tobacco Tax
GBPI In The News Georgia educators stand in solidarity against proposed $1 billion budget cut June 26, 2020 / June 30, 2020 by Alex Welch This week, teachers and educators gathered on the steps of the Capitol building in downtown Atlanta from as far away as Catoosa County in reaction to severe budgets planned for the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) for the upcoming school year and beyond. If the cuts to GaDOE’s budget are in the long run, agencies such as […] Read more » Budget Budget Cuts COVID-19 Jennifer Owens K-12 revenue
GBPI In The News Lawmakers Approve Vaping Tax, Raises Age For Tobacco Products To 21 June 26, 2020 / June 30, 2020 by Caitlin Highland Lawmakers on the last day of the legislative session passed a bill taxing vaping products for the first time and raising the age to purchase tobacco products to 21. The move, when signed by Gov. Brian Kemp, means an estimated $9.6 million and $14.5 million in extra revenue for the state. However, that is far […] Read more » Budget danny kanso revenue tobacco tac vaping tax
GBPI In The News State House committee pushes for new tax on vaping products June 25, 2020 / June 30, 2020 by Alex Welch A key Georgia House committee approved a 7% tax on vaping products Wednesday but declined to take on a hike in tobacco taxes. Vaping products could be taxed at as much as 7% of the wholesale price, depending on the type of device. That would add about $6 million per year to the state’s general […] Read more » Budget revenue Tobacco Tax
