Alternatives to Budget Cuts and Underfunding of Services

Legislators do not have to approve harmful spending cuts or delay indefinitely improvements in programs that serve Georgians' key needs. They have options.

Besides setting the right priorities for the use of current revenues, leaders have many ways to bring more revenues into the state coffers. There are ways of recovering revenues that are now lost to the state because of corporate tax loopholes and preferred treatment of special interests. Georgia could also delink from selected federal tax changes, temporarily redirect some gasoline tax dollars into human services, or temporarily raise rates modestly for very high-income filers who now pay low effective tax rates in comparison to lower income families. And they should stop giving new tax breaks for which there is no compelling reason. Georgia CURB has been monitoring meetings of the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees to show lawmakers what the revenues they are giving away could buy in real investments for our people. See attachments for more, but, here is an example:

Tax Break Under Consideration	Problems We Could Solve Instead:
HB 209 - Provide for a sales tax exemption for energy used directly in the production of manufactured goods. $110 million	Increase the “consumable materials” item (teachers' supplies) in the QBE funding formula to account for inflation since 1985. [$24.5 million] AND
	To recruit and retain foster parents, increase family foster care per diem rates to 75% of the recommended daily cost to raise a child. [$18 million] AND
	Eliminate the waiting list for Community Care Services Program (CCSP) (1,732 slots). [$13 million] AND
	Eliminate nearly half of the proposed cut in Medicaid hospital outpatient reimbursement. [$8.8 million] AND
	Increase the family foster care per diem rate to 75% of recommended daily cost to raise a child. [$18 million] AND
	Fully fund the hazardous waste trust fund and the solid waste trust fund. [$15 million] AND
	Restore cuts in PeachCare. [$13 million]

Alternatives to Budget Cuts and Underfunding of Services

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