Georgia tax collections drop 3 percent in April

Georgia’s tax collections for the month of April dove by almost 3 percent compared to the same month last year as income tax collections plummeted.

Gov. Nathan Deal said Wednesday that the decline of nearly $50 million was partly attributed to a spike in tax payments and the voiding of about $40 million in refund checks in April 2013. Tax revenue for the fiscal year totaled more than $14.7 billion, up about 5 percent from the same time last year.

State budget analysts pointed to positive signs. Sales tax receipts jumped by $26.5 million, or 3.1 percent, compared to the same month last year. And title fees collected under a new motor vehicle taxing scheme was about $48 million higher than April 2013.