Georgia House backs state income tax and property tax cuts in unanimous votes

Governor Brian Kemp and state leaders announce a one-time supplement for state employees, public school teachers and staff, along with University System of Georgia employees at the State Capitol in Atlanta on Monday, December 18, 2023. (Matthew Pearson/WABE)

The Georgia House on Thursday passed bills to cut state income and local property taxes, backing priorities of Gov. Brian Kemp and House Speaker Jon Burns.

The bills would accelerate an already-planned income tax cut, increase homeowner property tax exemptions in some jurisdictions and raise the amount parents can deduct per child from yearly income taxes.

Election-year tax cuts are always popular among Republicans, and all 236 state House and Senate seats are on the ballot this year. Even though growth in state tax collections is slowing, Georgia can afford tax cuts because the state budgeted to spend much less than what it will collect in taxes and had $10.7 billion in unallocated surplus at the end of the last budget year.