Every Halloween, we brace for ghosts and goblins—but the scariest forces haunting Georgia don’t wear masks. They hide in our tax code, zoning laws and stacks of red tape that hold families and businesses back.
At the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, we shine a light on these real-world monsters with data, ideas and principled reform. Here’s what we’re facing, and how we fight back.
👻 The Ghost of Red Tape Past
Georgia has over 111,000 restrictions—rules that haunt entrepreneurs and stifle opportunity. Cutting needless regulations means more creativity, competition and growth.
🏚️ The Zoning Zombies
Outdated zoning codes keep affordable homes buried. Modernizing local rules can revive housing options—from tiny homes to townhomes—and keep Georgia livable.
🧛 The Tax Vampires
While Georgia’s tax reform over the past several years represents progress, nearby states are moving faster. Continued tax relief will keep our economy strong and competitive.
🧟 The Bureaucratic Boogeymen
Bureaucratic creep threatens even the most prudent budgets. Tools like the Taxpayer Relief Fund protect taxpayers and preserve Georgia’s fiscal discipline.
This Halloween, we’re not afraid of the dark—we’re working to make Georgia stronger, freer and more prosperous. In our special Halloween edition of Friday Facts, we look at the scariest policies and ideas haunting Georgia.
Have a great weekend,
– Kyle Wingfield
Friday’s Freshest 🗞️
Despite the federal public health emergency ending over two years ago, ‘temporary’ Affordable Care Act subsidies that removed the income cap have remained in place. They have become the source of political theater in Washington, even though the expiring subsidies are not the driving force behind rising premiums.
Here is a simple proposition: If a Georgia public school has an open seat, any Georgia student should be able to take it. This idea isn’t fringe or partisan and shouldn’t require a superintendent’s blessing.
Atlanta is in the middle of consolidating and reorganizing schools, with tens of thousands of open seats across the district. Still, consolidation is rarely easy, even when it’s the practical or financially sound thing to do.
Georgia’s doctor shortage is large, and growing larger. Facing that fact is crucial if policymakers are to address the problem. So is rejecting the pervasive inclination to continue building our physician workforce “the way we’ve always done it.”
By adopting a Taxpayer Relief Fund, which saves surplus revenue for tax relief instead of new spending, Georgia can ensure conservative budgeting translates into lasting, responsible tax reductions.
Peach Picks 🍑
Georgia was 29th among states in a new study ranking states looking at the amount of debt per capita. The Reason Foundation study said Georgia had $4,503 in debt for every person and total debt of $48.2 billion. Connecticut had the most debt per capita at $26,187 while Tennessee had the least.
Gov. Brian Kemp is continuing an international economic development mission that will close with the 2025 Southeastern U.S.- Japan Conference in Tokyo. In addition to the conference, the delegation will meet with existing industries in Japan.
At a recent Georgia Senate Special Committee on Eliminating Georgia’s Income Tax, individual taxpayers talked about the need to reduce, or eliminate, the state’s income tax.
Georgia’s push to legalize sports betting faces new challenges after the state lawmaker who championed the effort announced his resignation. State Rep. Marcus Wiedower, R-Watkinsville, said he is stepping down to focus on a separate business opportunity.
Atlanta Public Schools has released its latest plan for recommending the closing and/or repurposing of several schools within the district. The district estimates it will save up to $25 million in annual operational expenses and $65 million in deferred maintenance with the plan, though plans have continued to face pushback from local residents.
Quotes Of Note 🌟
“Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.” – Golda Meir
“A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away.” – Barry Goldwater
“I think it’s very important to have a feedback loop, where you’re constantly thinking about what you’ve done and how you could be doing it better. I think that’s the single best piece of advice: constantly think about how you could be doing things better and questioning yourself.” – Elon Musk
One More Fact 💡
A new college ranking offers a refreshing and much-needed redefinition of what makes a university “elite.” For decades, the dominant rankings—U.S. News & World Report, Princeton Review and others—have measured prestige largely through inputs like SAT scores, selectivity and alumni giving. Those metrics may capture exclusivity, but they say little about what actually happens on campus, including how well students are taught, how free they are to think and how prepared they are for the real world.
This ranking from Manhattan Institute’s City Journal flips that script. By emphasizing free speech, academic rigor, viewpoint diversity and post-graduate success, it centers the true purpose of higher education: developing minds capable of critical thought and civic engagement. In an era when too many elite institutions have embraced ideological conformity or performative activism, this approach rewards universities that remain committed to open inquiry and intellectual honesty.
The top three performers—University of Florida, University of Texas and University of North Carolina—now outrank the Ivy League underscoring a shift in where genuine excellence can be found. The same can be said for Georgia Tech, which ranked sixth, and University of Georgia, which ranked ninth.
This new ranking measures substance over status. It elevates universities striving to educate, not indoctrinate. For students and parents seeking a true education rather than a four-year credential, this list may prove far more useful than the traditional hierarchy of prestige.