Politics
Politics

State tax collections in Georgia continue to climb

Gas taxes went up in July 2015 and has played a role in rising state tax revenue. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com
Gas taxes went up in July 2015 and has played a role in rising state tax revenue. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com
By James Salzer
Dec 6, 2016

State tax collections were up 4.6 percent in November, providing more good fiscal news for Georgia.

Collections during the first five months of the fiscal year, which began July 1, are up 4.8 percent, far ahead of what is needed to meet this year’s $23.7 billion state budget, Gov. Nathan Deal announced Tuesday.

Income and sales tax collections were both up in November, both signs that Georgians have more money to spend.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported last week that Georgia has had one of the fastest rates of revenue growth in the country. Many states, particularly in the middle of the country, have seen declining collections and lawmakers there may have to vote on new budget cuts in coming months.

About the Author

James Salzer has covered state government and politics in Georgia since 1990. He previously covered politics and government in Texas and Florida. He specializes in government finance, budgets, taxes, campaign finance, ethics and legislative history

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