Finding a Balance: Tax Exemptions for Seniors

CSLF Brief, Publication No. 55, August 8, 2019, Aaron Childree and Asmaa Malik
Governments increasingly create tax exemptions and other incentives that target seniors because seniors hold pivotal socio-economic and political roles in communities. However, policymakers must craft balanced policies that cater to all age demographics, ensuring that incentives geared toward seniors leave sufficient revenues for other budget areas, such as education. This policy brief examines the determinants of how and where seniors decide to live, the influence of senior tax exemptions on their decisions, and the role of governments in creating equitable policies for seniors and other demographic groups.

Jobs in Georgia, 2017 Update

CSLF Report, Publication No. 54, March 13, 2019, Peter Bluestone
This report is an update to earlier studies on Georgia's jobs in urban and rural regions and counties. This new report examines the immediate outcome of the recession, which began in 2007, and the subsequent economic recovery through 2017. Job growth, job quality and job type are compared by region. Finally, the government services sector, which plays an important role in fostering economic recovery in Georgia, is studied.

Housing Affordability and Commute Times for Essential Economy Workers in Georgia

CSLF Brief, Publication No. 53, March 1, 2019, Chris Thayer and Nicholas Warner
Essential Economy jobs, representing more than 25 percent of all jobs in Georgia, can only be done in certain locations. These jobs include retail workers, line cooks, personal care aids, and construction workers, among many others. Because of the spatial constraints, Essential Economy workers frequently work in communities in which they cannot reasonably afford to live. This brief investigates the home affordability gap between the housing where Essential Economy workers live and where they work across Georgia.

Fulton County Tax Expenditure Report Fiscal Year 2019

CSLF Report, Publication No. 51, December 2018, Laura Wheeler, Per Johnson, Katherine Townsend
The purpose of the report is to provide Fulton County officials with an inventory of tax expenditures and their values. In this way, these items can be tracked over time in a fashion comparable to a budget of direct governmental expenditures. The three main taxes levied by the county include property tax, local option sales tax, and TAVT (Title Ad Valorem Tax). Together these represent approximately 90 percent of Fulton County revenues for fiscal year (FY) 2018. This report is supported by a grant from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation.

Feasibility Study for the Proposed City of East Cobb

Technical Assistance -- City Feasibility Study, December 7, 2018, Staff
The Center for State and Local Finance completed a fiscal feasibility study for a newly incorporated city of East Cobb. This study provides a detailed analysis of the expected revenues and expenditures for the proposed city using generally accepted methodologies that the center has used for similar studies. The main purpose of the analysis is to estimate the ability of the proposed city of East Cobb to meet its expenditures with available revenue sources.

Low-SALT Rules: Charitable Contributions for State Tax Credits

Best Practices in Georgia's Budgeting and Financial Management

CSLF Report, Publication No. 49, November 7, 2018, Alex Hathaway
As stewards of public money, governments must make sound fiscal decisions. This report outlines how Georgia gets the job done by employing certain best practices in financial management. However, the report also points out that Georgia, like all states, still has room for improvement. Topics discussed include budget forecasting, one-time budget, maneuvers, legacy costs, reserve funds, and fiscal transparency.  The report is the sixth part of CSLF's Balancing the Budget in the Southern States series.

Budget Maneuvers in the Southern States

CSLF Report, Publication No. 48, October 9, 2018, Alex Hathaway and Jesseca Lighbourne
State officials may resort to budget manipulation approaches, such as using bond proceeds for general fund operating costs. Often used in response to economic distress, these one-time budget maneuvers are less transparent to the public than spending cuts and tax hikes and can push off costs for many years. This report examines these tactics, looking at their complications and use in the South. The report is the fifth part of CSLF's Balancing the Budget in the Southern States series.

Reserve Fund Policies in the Southern States

CSLF Report, Publication No. 47, September 11, 2018, Bethel Habte, Alex Hathaway and Jesseca Lighbourne
Reserve funds, also known as rainy day funds, act as savings accounts to help states weather unexpected fiscal events. States use these funds as one-time measures, such as cyclical downturns and natural disasters. This report looks at the importance of reserve funds and the funding policies in 16 southern states, highlighting best practices and areas for improvement. The report is the fourth part of CSLF's Balancing the Budget in the Southern States series.

OPEB Funding Challenges: The U.S. Postal Service

CSLF Report, Publication No. 46, September 7, 2018, Alex Hathaway
Long-term liabilities such as pensions and other postemployment benefits (OPEB) have become prominent public concerns, due to mounting obligations. Few states prefund OPEB like they do pension plans, but it can be beneficial. One place where this challenge is especially acute is the U.S. Postal Service. This report takes a look at the Postal Service's position and how it is attempting to fund the cost of OPEB and retiree health care. Their challenges may provide valuable insights for states.