Since summer 2010, the Georgia Division of Developmental Disabilities has been reviewing the home and community based service rates paid to its providers.  Our organization, Burns & Associates, Inc., has been assisting the Division in this process.

State Senate Ideas Include 'Fair Tax' Study, Cap on State Spending

By Christopher Quinn

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Senate Resolution 28, co-sponsored Monday by Sen. Judson Hill, R-Marietta, and Sen. Bill Heath, R-Bremen, asks for the creation of a committee to study the use of a state sales tax, or "Fair Tax."

The resolution calls for five members to be appointed by the Committee on Assignments, which is made up eight senators who stripped Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle of his appointive powers late in 2009. It asks that the Fair Tax Committee study and make recommendations for legislation during this session when broad-ranging tax reform has been proposed by a special council. The council has already recommended shifting taxes more to consumers and doing away with more than 110 tax exemptions and credits given to businesses, nonprofits and interest groups over the years.

Also on Monday Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock, Senate President Pro Tem Tommie Williams, R-Lyons, and others proposed a constitutional amendment in Senate Resolution 20 to cap state appropriations after 2013 to an amount equal to the previous year, adjusted for inflation and population. Or it would limit spending to the same amount as in one of either of the previous two years. Any excess taxes collected would fund education or be transferred to state reserves.

Constitutional amendments require approval of two-thirds of the members of each house of the General Assembly and must be approved by voters.

© 2010 Atlanta Journal-Constitution & 2004-2010 LSN, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


 

Four Additional Options to Improve Fairness in the Tax Council's Recommendations

Article Release by: GBPI 

GBPI releases new policy brief offering additional adjustment options that would improve fairness in the tax recommendations made by the Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians.

The Tax Council's recommendations make improvements to structural issues plaguing Georgia's tax system, taking strong action to broaden tax bases -- a tenet of good tax policy. Although the Tax Council's recommendations would improve Georgia's ability to meet current and future needs, they would do so by shifting taxes away from wealthy Georgians and onto middle- and low-income Georgians.

GBPI provided options for improving equity within the Tax Council's recommendations in January. This policy brief provides four additional adjustment options. These new options focus on ways to re-craft the proposed personal income tax credit to make it stronger in offsetting the tax changes in the sales tax, with estimates from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

"The Council's recommendations would bring much-needed modernizations to our tax system," said Sarah Beth Gehl, GBPI deputy director. "Several options exist for legislators to move forward with the intent of the Council's findings and ensure the final tax reform package better meets the Tax Council's principle of equity."

Notes from The Senate

By: Senator Jack Hill 

JANUARY REVENUES CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE

January is one of the top revenue months of the year, usually second behind April, which is often the height of the income tax season. Sales tax collections from the Christmas holidays are reflected in the January revenue report as well. At an 8.1% increase, total January revenues followed another strong month in December. In fact, at $1.55 billion, the collections in January were about $400,000 over the December total.

Net revenues for the month were up $117.1 million over January of 2010.  Individual income tax collections were up a whopping 12.2% which reflect individual taxes paid as well as small business activity.  Sales taxes, although up for the month, actually only showed a 1.2% increase after local sales tax collections were distributed. 

Motor fuel tax revenues were up 15.7% although the excise portion showed a decrease, with higher prices possibly driving down usage. But sales taxes increased $10.3 million or 39.1%. Corporate tax collections were up $3.6 million. Tobacco taxes continue to drift downward at -3.6% and alcoholic beverage tax collections were exactly flat for the month.

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