A day after defending his economic record during a raucous debate in Perry, Gov. Nathan Deal announced that the state’s net tax collections for the month of September had increased 5 percent from last year’s total.
Georgia’s collections reached $1.8 billion in September, an $86.25 million increase from the same time a year ago. The release by Deal’s office also noted that year-to-date net tax revenue has increased by 4.7 percent.
The numbers continue a long list of positive economic trends that Deal has pointed to in his quest for a second term as Georgia’s top executive. From fewer unemployment claims to more jobs added, the state’s economy would seem to be on the upswing — except for a pesky unemployment rate that has stayed stubbornly high, reaching 8.1 percent in August and becoming fodder for attacks from Democratic opponent Jason Carter.
The unemployment rates pointed to a middle class that had been left behind, the state senator said Tuesday night during the Perry debate.
“How long,” Carter asked Deal “do they have to wait in your economy to get the benefits that you’re talking about?”
The latest release from Deal showed a $5 million increase in corporate income tax earnings, $50.5 million added in gross sales tax collections and a $64.5 million bump in individual income tax receipts.
“If you think these last four years have been good — and I believe they have been — just wait,” Deal said Tuesday night in his closing at the debate. “We’re going to do even more.”
Support real journalism. Support local journalism. Subscribe to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution today. See offers.
Your subscription to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution funds in-depth reporting and investigations that keep you informed. Thank you for supporting real journalism.