Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP)

Georgia

Georgia Budget & Policy Institute: Overview of Georgia’s Budget for Amended Fiscal Year 2026 and the Full 2027 Fiscal Year

January 26, 2026

Between Gov. Brian P. Kemp’s first full fiscal year (FY) budget as governor and his eighth and final budget for FY 2027, state spending has increased by nearly $11 billion to $38.5 billion. Governor Kemp’s AFY 2026 and FY 2027 budget proposals recognize that Georgia can use its historic level of resources to fill long-awaited […]

State Rundown 1/22: Cautious Tone Noticeable in Most Statehouses

Most states are adopting a very cautious approach so far this year as legislators begin their sessions and governors make their annual addresses, thanks to ongoing economic uncertainty and federal retrenchment.

Local Governments Are Increasingly Strapped: 2026 Will Bring New Challenges and New Opportunities

2025 saw an intensification of state and local tax fights across the country, as well as growing experimentation with local-option taxes, levies, fees, and tourism taxes aimed at keeping budgets afloat while also navigating political constraints imposed by state legislatures.

State Rundown 1/7: New Year, New Opportunities for Progressive Revenue

As we kick off a new year, several states are facing revenue shortfalls. Some lawmakers are approaching the challenge with sustainable and equitable solutions.

Not-So-Free Kick: How the 2026 FIFA World Cup Will Cost Cities Millions

FIFA demanded sales tax breaks on World Cup Tickets. That means millions in lost revenue for host cities already shouldering the costs on providing infrastructure, security and logistics.

State Rundown 11/24: States Say ‘No Thank You’ to Federal Tax Cuts Reducing State Revenue

Lawmakers in two more states have wisely said “no thank you” to federal tax cuts that would have flowed through to their state tax codes and undermined funding for their priorities

Georgia Budget and Policy Institute: Breaking the Bank: Eliminating the State Income Tax Harms Most Georgians and Increases the Cost of Living

November 17, 2025

Eliminating Georgia’s income tax would represent the largest transfer of wealth from working and middle-class families to high income individuals and corporations in state history. Doing so would dramatically push Georgia’s budget out of balance, given that the income tax has been the state’s single largest source of revenue since 1982. Read more.

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Local Vacancy Taxes: A Tool but Not a Panacea

November 17, 2025 • By Rita Jefferson

Local Vacancy Taxes: A Tool but Not a Panacea

Vacancy taxes will not single-handedly solve problems in cities, but they are worth considering to address housing shortages, land use, and building thriving communities.

State Tax Dollars Shouldn’t Subsidize Federal Opportunity Zones

The Opportunity Zones program benefits wealthy investors more than it benefits disadvantaged communities.