Blake Tillery

1 day ago

For all of our readers out there, check out my latest op-ed from the AJC about our plan to eliminate the state income tax. ⬇⬇⬇

The Case for Ending Georgia’s Income Tax:

Georgia families need relief.

Gas prices don’t wait on legislation. Neither do groceries, power bills or child care. Families feel those costs every week, and they’ve been clear about what they want from their elected officials: fewer excuses and more money left in their paychecks.

That’s why the Georgia Senate created the Special Committee on Eliminating Georgia’s Income Tax, which I had the privilege of chairing.

Our committee’s job was not to debate whether income tax elimination is a good idea. That debate is largely moot at this point. Our charge was to figure out how to do it responsibly.

Here’s what we found.

Georgia families would get a 5% raise

Georgia is in a strong financial position.

We’ve lowered income tax rates, returned money to taxpayers, built historic reserves, and still funded education, health care and public safety.

That combination only happens because Georgia has lived within its means.

So rather than asking, “Can Georgia afford to eliminate the income tax?” the better question is, “Why wouldn’t we?”

Our recommendation helps everyone, but especially hard-working Georgians.

Starting in 2027, the first $50,000 of income for individual filers and $100,000 for married couples filing jointly would be tax-free.

On day one, that eliminates the state income tax entirely for about two-thirds of working Georgians. Everyone else sees a reduction and a clear path to zero.

For the average family, eliminating the income tax is the equivalent of a little more than a 5% raise. That’s real money that helps cover necessities today and creates a little breathing room tomorrow.

We received numerous warnings before the committee even met from numerous critics on the issue. After months of testimony and data, they still don’t hold up. Georgia has already shown that tax cuts and strong public services are not mutually exclusive.

Peach State must stay competitive

We’ve cut taxes, funded education and public safety, paid cash for capital projects, and still built one of the strongest balance sheets in the country. The idea that relief for families requires weaker government simply doesn’t match the facts.

There’s also a competitiveness issue that shouldn’t be ignored. States like Florida, Tennessee and Texas don’t tax income, and they’re growing at a rapid pace. States with high income taxes are losing people and businesses just as quickly. If Georgia wants to stay competitive 10 years from now, we can’t pretend this doesn’t matter.

Income taxes also come with another problem: complexity. They invite carve-outs, exemptions and special treatment. When that happens, working families pick up the tab. A simpler tax system is harder to game and easier to live with.

Critics argue that eliminating the income tax shifts the burden elsewhere or causes a reduction of services. We never even considered that. Those options were off the table, and they stayed there. No sales tax hike. No property tax increase. No higher gas tax. No tax on groceries.

So where does that leave us?

It leaves Georgia with a clear path forward and a choice. We can continue trimming around the edges, or we can finish the job we’ve already started. We can keep asking families to wait, or we can recognize that many of them are already stretched thin. I want the income tax eliminated.

This is not a question of if Georgia will eliminate the income tax. It’s a question of when. The committee’s work shows we can start now, protect taxpayers, and do it without gambling with the state’s finances. It simply prioritizes working families over special interests and proves that Georgia can deliver tax relief in a way that’s both fiscally responsible and sustainable.

Families have been clear. I believe it’s time state government was just as clear in its response. ... See MoreSee Less

Blake Tillery

2 days ago

I was honored to speak at the annual Faith and Freedom Legislative Luncheon. It was inspiring to hear from Coach Mark Richt and encouraging to see so many people come together to pray for our state and the new legislative session. ... See MoreSee Less

Blake Tillery

7 days ago

I was honored to attend the Greater Vidalia Chamber Luncheon yesterday and share an update on the upcoming legislative session. It was a tremendous success, with representatives traveling from Bulloch, Jesup, Dublin, and McRae to join a sold-out luncheon of more than 250 attendees. Thank you for having me! ... See MoreSee Less