Georgia's tax collections are improving even as lawmakers grapple with budget cuts brought on by previous shortfalls. Gov. Brian Kemp announced on Monday that tax collections rose 4.5% in January compared to the same month in 2019.
Overall tax collections for the budget year are now up $133 million. That still leaves the state on pace to be far short of the $800 million in new revenue that Kemp and lawmakers projected for this year. But it's a little good news as House members ratify cuts that Kemp earlier imposed on state agencies. It could also brighten the picture for next year's budget.