Policy Briefs & Reports
Policy reports and shorter policy briefs are integral aspects of our publications and often stem from our academic publications. These practitioner-centered works provide valuable insights into the policy landscape and promote actionable, evidence-based recommendations.
A Comparison of Economic Growth Trends between Atlanta and Other Large Metropolitan Areas
CSLF Brief, Publication No. 18, Oct. 6, 2015, David Sjoquist and Lakshmi Pandey
This report analyzes data over a 23-year period for 31 metropolitan areas that had at least 2 million people in 2013. It finds that metro-Atlanta population and job growth has been greater compared to other metropolitan locations. However, job quality has seen the same impact.
Analysis of Proposed Tax Allocation District in City of College Park
CSLF Special Report, Publication No. 17, Sept. 29, 2015, Sarah Larson and David Sjoquist
The city of College Park proposed the creation of Tax Allocation District #1 (Downtown and Airport Gateways) in June 2015. The Fulton County School District asked the Center for State and Local Finance to conduct an analysis of the proposed TAD using the district’s current policies. This report was updated March 2, 2016.
Georgia Tax Credits (2015)
FRC Report, Publication No. 272, Sept. 22, 2015, Sherman A. Cooper and Laura Wheeler
This 2015 compendium details Georgia business and personal credits allowed against the state's corporate and individual income tax. Economic development, housing and environmental tax credits are among those included.
Willing to Pay: Charter Schools' Impact on Georgia Property Values
FRC Report, Publication No. 271, Aug. 18, 2015, Carlianne Patrick
This report looks at whether homebuyers are willing to pay a premium for access to charter schools in Georgia. The research looks at 13 charter schools with enrollment priority zones, and it finds that on average home sale prices are 7 to 13 percent higher in the zone with the greatest chance for enrollment. The report also gives an overview of features and structure of charter schools in Georgia.
Assessing Georgia's Non-Tax Economic Development Incentives
CSLF Report, Publication No. 16, July 14, 2015, Carlianne Patrick
The primary goal for state and local economic development policy in the United States is to support business retention and recruitment. In this report, Dr. Carlianne Patrick takes a look at the non-tax economic development incentives in Georgia, and compares them to those of four competing states: Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Georgia's Ranking Among the States: Budget, Taxes and Other Indicators
CSLF Report, Publication No. 15, June 16, 2015, Elton Davis
This 2015 guide includes a collection of metrics and state rankings that compare Georgia to other states across the nation. Several of the comparisons focus on total state or local government revenue and expenditures, but the report also includes measures that compare either expenditures or state characteristics within specific functional areas, such as education, health and transportation.
Changes in Georgia's Migration Patterns, 1991-2011
FRC/CSLF Policy Brief, FRC Publication No. 275, June 16, 2015, Sherman A. Cooper and Laura Wheeler
This joint brief looks at migration in Georgia from 1991-2011. Although there was significant migration to the state during the early 1990s through the early 2000s, it has slowed substantially since then. The brief analyzes trends, including looking at income of those moving to and away from Georgia.
Financing Georgia's Future III
FRC Report, Publication No. 270, June 2015, Jeremy Alexander and Sally Wallace
This analysis highlights the major state and local revenue sources from 1998-2012, including specific data surrounding recent recessions. The report's thorough look at trends in Georgia's state and local finances also serves as a foundation for discussion on government finance in the state.
Georgia's Tax Credit for Zero- and Low-Emission Vehicles
FRC Policy Brief, Publication No. 276, April 28, 2015, Mels de Zeeuw and Laura Wheeler
This joint brief provides a retrospective look at Georgia's experience with tax credits for zero- and low-emission vehicles and the overall affect these credits have had on state revenue.
A Multiregional Model of Growth Oriented State Tax Reforms: An Application to Georgia and Five Comparison States
FRC Report, Publication No. 269, April 21, 2015, Jeffrey Condon, Andrew Feltenstein, Florenz Plassman, Mark Rider and David L. Sjoquist
This report analyzes the effects of three revenue neutral tax reform scenarios on Georgia and neighboring states using a dynamic scoring model -- created by the authors -- known as a “Computable General Equilibrium" (CGE) model.