State tax collections were up 3 percent in  December after dipping the two previous months, a good sign for state lawmakers as they begin their 2020 legislative session.

Collections have been down or slow the past few months, backing up Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision to order state agencies to cut spending 4% this year and 6% next year.

However, both income and sales tax collections were up slightly from December 2018.

Overall, collections for the first six months of fiscal 2020, which began July 1, are up .3%, or $32 million. That’s well below what was projected to be needed to pay for this year’s $27.5 billion state budget.

About the Author

Keep Reading

In a 17-page ruling, Senior Superior Court Judge David Emerson said the fines — levied against the board as a group — will begin Friday at noon and not stop until the two GOP nominees are seated. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Featured

John Raulet, a partner in Raulet Property Partners, stands in the soundstage at Mailing Street Stageworks, Tuesday, August 26, 2025, in Atlanta. Raulet’s company has either converted or sold off all but one of its soundstages amid a downturn in film production in the U.S. (Jason Getz / AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com