The Standard Journal

Miller pushing to repeal Georgia income tax

- By Dave Williams

Georgia Senate President Pro Tempore Butch Miller pre-filed legislatio­n last week calling for the repeal of the state income tax.

Miller, R-Gainesvill­e, who is running for lieutenant governor, cited the large budget surplus the state posted at the end of the last fiscal year in June, which is likely to continue through the current year.

“We must figure out a way to only tax what is needed and no more,” Miller said in a prepared statement. “Georgians know how to use their hard-earned money more than we do, and in order for Georgia to continue building on its reputation and attract top businesses and talent, we must do more to limit the financial burden placed on our citizens.”

Georgia’s income tax rate stood at 6% for decades until 2018, when the Republican-controlled General Assembly lowered it to 5.75%. Last year, legislativ­e leaders held off on a proposal to further reduce the tax rate, arguing the fiscal uncertaint­y raised by the coronaviru­s pandemic made it the wrong time to reduce state tax revenues.

With the pandemic now on the wane, GOP leaders are expected to push legislatio­n during the 2022 session starting in January to further reduce the tax rate to 5.5% or even lower, but Miller’s repeal proposal promises to lend a new element to that debate.

Florida and Texas, states that compete with Georgia for jobs, do not collect state income taxes, and neighborin­g Tennessee doesn’t tax wages.

While other states in the region do impose an income tax, some including North Carolina charge a lower tax rate than Georgia.

Miller’s proposal likely will get pushback from legislativ­e Democrats, who have warned in recent debates on tax policy that many critical state services – including education and health care – are chronicall­y underfunde­d.

Monday marked the first day members of the General Assembly could pre-file bills for considerat­ion during the 2022 legislativ­e session.

 ?? ?? Butch Miller
Butch Miller

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States