Georgia Budget & Policy Institute: Georgia’s Income Tax: Essential for State’s Economy and Families
ITEP Work in ActionPlans to eliminate or drastically cut income taxes and replace them with other levies are in vogue in several states. But Georgia policymakers would do well to ignore the siren’s call. Such a tax shift would do nothing to help the state’s economy and would, in fact, hurt families and businesses by eroding support for schools, transportation and other ingredients of a strong economy. Hard-pressed Georgians would end up paying more of their income in other, less equitable, taxes and the state would have a less reliable revenue stream to meet public needs. While a strong case can be made for reforming and modernizing Georgia taxes, taking apart the income tax should not be part of the discussion.