Income/Property Taxes & You

Team #6: Leon P, Joseph V, Sarah S, Kason L

Introduction:

Georgia tax policies play quite the significant role in how our government funds public services and how the quality of life of its citizens is affected as a result. Economically, there have been times in Georgia where members of the legislative branch said to increase or decrease state income tax, which has sparked much debate between parties. The 2026 Georgia General Assembly finds itself in such times with the Republican caucus campaigning their plan to cut and ultimately eliminate income taxes. SB 476 and SB 477, sponsored by Senator Blake Tillery (R-District 19), are the latest income tax proposals passing through the assembly, which will reduce the rate of income taxation down to 4.99%, and eventually 3.99% by 2028. SB 476 will also waive income taxes for single filers earning up to 50,000 dollars and married couples earning up to 100,000 dollars. While Republicans claim these cuts will increase affordability for everyday Georgians, Democrats express concern that these cuts will only further increase wealth inequality within the state. Despite conflict over how to address income taxation, plans to address property taxes have received much more bipartisan support. SB 382, sponsored by Senator Chuck Hufstetler (R-District 52), will protect Georgians by setting annual caps on property value increases that will be adjusted to the rate of inflation. This bill passed through the Senate with a 31-19 vote, while SB 476 passed through the Senate by Republican support, only receiving one Democrat vote from Senator David Lucas (D-District 26).

Artifact #1:

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution published this article summarizing SB 476 and SB 477. Reporter David Wicker details how these bills will nearly eliminate income tax for a majority of Georgians, helping those who are currently struggling with affordability. However, these bills have the potential to cause a big hole in the state’s budget, raising question as to what will happen to state revenue and other funding, such as public services that many citizens depend on. Democrats have also brought into consideration how lost revenue will be made up if these bills get passed.

Artifact #2:

The Augusta Chronicle also published an article covering SB 476 and 477, going into further detail how if income tax is eliminated, it can cause harm to other public programs such as schools, healthcare, prisons and other programs/services that are dependent on income tax revenue. Mark Niesse of Capitol Beat News Service also discusses how these bills can affect higher income households, providing perspective on how lower income residents won’t see much of a change overall.

Artifact #3:

Republican Senator Blake Tillery, who is running for Lt. Governor of Georgia, made this post on X framing tax reform as a fairness issue between corporations and everyday families. Tillery argues that Georgia families (especially those earning under $100,00) should have their income tax eliminated, funded by eliminating corporate tax breaks for large data centers. By contrasting a family paying sales tax on a laptop for a student at Kennesaw State University with corporations avoiding taxes on $15 million in equipment, he uses a relatable example to appeal to middle-class voters. His claim that the exemption costs families $700 million strengthens his populist, “anti-corporate welfare” message.

Artifact #4:

Mark Niesse also wrote an article for WABE that details how Republicans plan to address the loss of state revenue. SB 476 will replace lost revenue by cutting corporate tax breaks and tax credits that were established during the COVID pandemic and reallocating those funds back into the state revenue. Niesse also specifies in this article which services will have their funding cut to address lost revenue: infrastructure and education.

Artifact #5:

Current Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, Burt Jones, published his monthly newsletter for the month of February, announcing that cutting down state income tax and property tax are at the top of his list of priorities for 2026. Specifically, Jones celebrates the passage through Senate of SB 476, SB 477, and SB 382, which, if passed, will set annual caps on increases of home values. Unlike the Republican-campaigned bills, SB 476 and SB 477, SB 382 has received support from both parties.

Artifact #6:

While this tweet isn’t extensive in content, it offers an insight into what shareholders think about Georgia joining several other Southeast states in lowering/eliminating income and/or property tax. Hannah Cox is a resident of Georgia, but several of the commenters mention that they came from neighboring states where there are different levels of tax. One commenter mentions how in Kentucky, they are lowering the income tax little by little each year- a different method than what is being promoted right now in Georgia. Working off of the big promise of completely eliminating property and income taxes with strong adjectives are how politicians get their citizens to support them.

Artifact #7:

Governor Brian Kemp posted to X announcing his signing of the amended state budget, stating that billions of dollars will go towards tax relief and investments in infrastructure. A user from Dixie, GA replied to this post expressing doubt that the budget will follow through in cutting state income and property tax, pointing out that Georgia has a budget surplus of over 14.6 billion dollars.

Artifact #8:

Fox 5 News posted this article about SB 382 and its plan to protect Georgians from the rising cost of housing. Fox % anchor/ reporter, Deidra Dukes, writes that this bill will set limits for the amount that property values can increase based on the rate of inflation for the year. This bill will also prevent local governments from opting out of these set limits by making them mandatory statewide.

Artifact #9:

Here, we will find a pretty detailed breakdown of the Georgia tax system. It even goes into very briefly breaking down the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and that Georgia is being urged to follow lawmakers and pollsters who support the lowering of income and property tax. But, though it is missing that context, next to other artifacts there are comparisons and counterarguments to be seen/made. the lead of federal tax cuts. Unlike the previous artifact, it tries to prove a point using numbers. The point they are trying to prove? That eliminating state income tax will harm Georgians. Granted, the statistics are there, but what I’m not seeing is counterarguments against those lawmakers.

Artifact #10:

Atlanta-based journalist, Alander Rocha, wrote this article for the Georgia Recorder summarizing the debate between Republicans and Democrats over state income tax cuts and how they will affect affordability. Republicans claim that these tax cuts will eliminate income tax for two-thirds of Georgians and help Georgia compete with neighboring states who have already lowered income taxes or cut them completely. Democrats argue that these tax cuts will have the opposite effect, harming Georgians by putting the state in generational debt and making life less affordable for families who are already struggling.

Conclusion:

Regardless of the current situation on taxes in Georgia, there are two kinds of people who will be affected by this bill: lower class and upper class. Those who rely on publicly-funded services such as transportation, school, food stamps, and much more will face a decrease in quality or total loss of the least impactful of the services. On the other hand, people with steady income may see a boost in their finances. What seems to be the most pressing issue is how the elimination of income tax will be phased in in Georgia. Ultimately, the result can’t exactly be predicted, but the states that neighbor Georgia serve as an example of what might be to come. In reality, the lawmakers and stakeholders who support, oppose, or closely follow this bill are ultimately painting the picture for what it will look like in Georgia. Depending on support, and depending on how the future unfolds for Democrat control in the state, the gravity of the situation could change. Senate Bills 476 and 477 are making their way through the Capitol, and as Georgia swings stronger in either direction, the stakes get higher for the potential these bills have