It’s Friday!
Quotes of note
“The greatest evils in the world will not be carried out by men with guns, but by men in suits sitting behind desks.” – C.S. Lewis
“Reading furnishes the mind with only the materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours.” – John Locke
“Man is a strange animal, he doesn’t like to read the handwriting on the wall until his back is up against it.” – Adlai Stevenson
On Our Desks
B.A. and broke: With student debt on the rise, is there any way to help curb borrowing? In his weekly column, Kyle Wingfield explores a possible solution.
We’re hiring! Georgia Policy has two open positions: Development Associate and Research Fellow. Each of these roles will help our organization grow – one by helping us raise more money, the other by increasing our capacity to gather and publish information. Both positions are perfect for entry-level candidates, so share them with the liberty-minded recent college graduate, or soon-to-be graduate, in your life.
Economy
Uh oh: Federal data released Wednesday shows that inflation in metro Atlanta is among the highest in the nation, reports 11Alive. At 10.8%, it is second only to Phoenix at 11%, and higher than Miami at 9.6%, Los Angeles at 7.9%, and Chicago at 7.2%. Atlanta’s dependence on automobiles, record diesel fuel prices, and the skyrocketing cost of housing are all cited as contributing factors.
Beep beep: The parent company of Kia Motors as soon as next week could announce plans to build a second automobile factory in Georgia. If plans go through, the company would hire 8,500 people, according to The Atlanta Journal Constitution. The plant reportedly would be built on a site along I-16 in Bryan County, near Savannah.
Healthcare
Bad trend: Deaths from drug overdoses set a new U.S. record in 2021 for the second straight year, according to new preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency estimates 107,622 Americans died from overdoses last year, 15% more than the previous record set in 2020. Georgia, with 2,399 overdose deaths, saw the 11th-fastest increase among states at 27.7%. The data are expected to be updated as the CDC reviews more death records. Source: Becker’s Hospital Review
Under new mgmt: The urgent-care business of Piedmont Healthcare is purchasing 10 centers in Northwest Georgia and metro Atlanta, the Rome News-Tribune reports. Piedmont Urgent Care will now operate clinics in Rome and Cartersville while expanding its presence in Grayson, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Lithonia, Loganville and Snellville.
Taxation
Don’t wait by the mailbox: Taxpayers are set to get a one-time tax refund as part of the state’s plan to return $1.1 billion in surplus funds. The refunds were scheduled to begin going to taxpayers this week, although state officials said the volume of refunds may delay some payments as late as August. These payments of $250 for single filers and $500 for joint filers are in addition to the flattening and reduction of the personal income tax, which takes effect in 2024. Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution
Rolling back: Columbia County’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year is expected to include the county’s seventh property tax reduction in the past eight years, according to The Augusta Chronicle. The county’s current millage rate is 5.683 in the general fund. County officials want to roll that back to 5.651. The millage rate is the rate per $1,000 of assessed property value, used to calculate local property taxes. A taxpayer whose home was valued by the county at $250,000 would save a few dollars this year due to the reduction.
Blue line tax credit: Beginning January 1, 2023, the LESS Crime Act (Senate Bill 361) will allow Georgia taxpayers to receive tax credits for donations to their local law enforcement agencies, reports the Dalton Daily Citizen. The Fostering Success Act (House Bill 424) will allow tax credits for donations in support of unadopted youth ages 16-18 in foster care. Both bills were signed by Governor Brian Kemp on Monday.
Have a great weekend.
Kyle Wingfield
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