The Georgia Senate approved a constitutional amendment Monday that would prohibit any increase in the state’s 6 percent income tax.
Senate Resolution 415, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem David Shafer, R-Duluth, received a two-thirds Senate vote along party lines and would technically need the same from House members before it could be put to voters for final approval. Legislation dealing with state revenue, however, is supposed to start in the House. And, given the state's slow recovery from the recession, any broad changes to the tax system would be a long shot this year anyway.
Shafer, however, said he wanted it to be a conversation-starter for Georgia as it competes for business with other states. North Carolina, for example, recently reduced its state income tax to 5.75 percent. Tennessee and Florida don’t have any income tax at all.
“Personally, I would like to see the state income tax reduced. I believe it places us at a competitive disadvantage,” Shafer told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently. “This constitutional amendment simply prevents any increase. It sends a very strong message about our commitment to remaining a low-tax state. We introduced the resolution to begin a conversation, and I think that conversation has begun and I think it’s a productive and important one.”
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