Kemp announces $2B tax rebate proposal
Gov. Brian Kemp announced Thursday he plans to issue around $2 billion in income and property tax rebates to Georgians next year – if he wins re-election in November. Record economic growth in Georgia has given the state a budget surplus, and some of that money should be returned to people’s pockets, Kemp said. Kemp’s proposed $1 billion tax rebate would provide $250 income tax rebates to single filers, $375 rebates to single filers who are heads of household and $500 rebates to married couples filing jointly next year, Kemp said. The income tax rebate would be similar to the extra income tax rebates most Georgia taxpayers received this summer, Kemp noted.
Kemp proposed an additional $1 billion in property tax rebates. This would mean Georgia homeowners would get an estimated $500 rebate to offset higher property tax bills. “This Georgia Homeowner Rebate will save an average homeowner between 15 and 25% on their local property tax bill next year,” Kemp said. “For young Georgians just getting settled into their first home or parents sending their kids off to college, unforeseen jumps in property values and local tax bills only add to the uncertain times we are in,” Kemp said. “This will put real money back in the pockets of hardworking Georgians.' Kemp took credit for Georgia’s budget surplus, pointing to his administration’s economic development successes, especially in rural parts of the state.
His administration has brought in a total of $21.2 billion in investments to the Peach State over the last year, Kemp said earlier this week. A spokesperson for Democrat Stacey Abrams – who is running against Kemp for the governorship – criticized Kemp’s proposals.“ 'Stacey Abrams has proposed giving tax relief to middle-class families and working Georgians,” said Alex Floyd on behalf of the Abrams campaign.
“Kemp's plan would give tax handouts to millionaires while he still refuses to expand Medicaid and lower healthcare costs for Georgians,” Floyd said. “Georgians need relief today.”
This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.
