State ends slide as March brings positive revenue news
The state of Georgia has ended its 15-month skid of negative revenue numbers, as Gov. Sonny Perdue reports tax collections in March rose by 1 percent over 2009.
The numbers send the first positive signal since November 2008.
“While we are always cautious about reading too much into a single month’s revenue report, the March numbers are certainly encouraging,” Perdue said in a statement. “Springtime in Georgia always brings us the Masters and the Braves’ opening day, and I am hopeful we are also seeing the first buds of economic recovery.”
State revenue collections were boosted by a surge in corporate income tax payments and a modest bump in gross sales tax collections. Businesses paid 9.8 percent more in income taxes in March than a year ago, which translates to a net gain of $11.79 million. While gross sales tax collections rose by 1 percent, overall sales and use taxes were down by 11.6 percent, the difference coming from a $52 million increase in sales tax distributions to local governments.
While the monthly news is certainly welcome, overall the fiscal year remains a disaster. State tax collections for the budget year that began July 1 are still off by more than $1.34 billion from the same period in 2009.
Individual income tax collections
March 2010: $345.01 million
March 2009: $354.06 million
Difference: -2.6 percent
Corporate income tax collections
March 2010: $ 132.41 million
March 2009: $ 120.62 million
Difference: +9.8 percent
Sales and use tax collections
March 2010: $724.01 million
March 2009: $716.83 million
Difference: +1.0 percent
Fiscal year to date (July 1-March 31)
Overall tax collections: $10.26 billion
Same period a year ago: $11.59 billion
Difference: -11.5 percent
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22 comments Add your comment
Pat
April 6th, 2010
2:53 pm
First
AH
April 6th, 2010
2:54 pm
Quick spend the money before we lose it.
Tweets that mention State ends slide as March brings positive revenue news | Gold Dome Live -- Topsy.com
April 6th, 2010
3:02 pm
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Tweets that mention State ends slide as March brings positive revenue news | Gold Dome Live -- Topsy.com
April 6th, 2010
3:04 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by ajc dot com, Javier Brownx, Jaison Simmons, Charles Feagain, topsy_top20k and others. topsy_top20k said: Georgia sees 1 percent revenue growth in March on strength of corporate income and gross sales taxes http://bit.ly/dk5JMs [...]
General Sherman
April 6th, 2010
3:07 pm
AH…Do not worry they will find away to waste it.Remember the horse barn,college football hall of fame,little league move and the vet school at uga. They do not know the word SAVE!
TnGelding
April 6th, 2010
3:09 pm
Good news!
George (State Employee)
April 6th, 2010
3:12 pm
Don’t worry about the Highway congestion.
Don’t worry about the Education system.
Don’t worry about the lowest State Trooper rate in the country.
Don’t worry about closing State Parks.
Don’t worry about builidng Reservoirs only people in Atlanta need water.
Tax cuts and special tax exemptions for Special interest is what is needed.
Did anyone every hear of killing the Golden Goose that is what is happening in Georgia.
It is not a pretty site but with all the lawyers and accountant in the Legislature what did you expect. Just Like with the ethics if your are a State Employees and take anything over $25.00 in value you will be fired. The legislators will not pass Ethics reform that are getting rich they are not going to give up there free rides and vacations. Did anyone every hear of the double standard. They is only one Agency in State Government that there budget has increased dramaticaly that is the Georgia General Assmbley. Why does it take 4 months for our Legislator to do 40 days work. Check it out.
uberVU - social comments
April 6th, 2010
3:19 pm
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by ajc: RT @AJCGeorgia: Georgia sees 1 percent revenue growth in March on strength of corporate income and gross sales taxes http://bit.ly/dk5JMs…
Roy Barnes
April 6th, 2010
3:21 pm
General Sherman you left out the Golf Hall of Fame! Old building in Savannah covered in weeds now.
Yankee Carpetbagger
April 6th, 2010
3:27 pm
Does this mean I can get my homestead exemption this year?
George (State Employee)
April 6th, 2010
3:36 pm
Yankee Carpetbagger
You can get your Homestead exemption as soon as they firgure out how to fire a few more Teachers and State Troopers.
Another State Employee
April 6th, 2010
4:20 pm
Not to mention the over paid college presidents and administrators. Why do the state school administrators and professor make so much. GA Tech’s new pres is in the high $400s. He gets a home and a car for what. With that kind of money can’t you buy these things yourself?
NAME SALARY ENTITY_NAME
ADAMS,MICHAEL F $561,903.00 UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
RAHN,DANIEL W $539,991.00 MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIA
CLOUGH,GERALD W $523,071.00 GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
PATTON,CARL V $399,059.16 GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY
GRUBE,BRUCE $238,110.60 GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
ZACCARI,RONALD M $214,887.54 VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY
PAPP,DANIEL S $214,000.08 KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
POTTER,DAVID LEIGH $205,902.00 NORTH GEORGIA COLLEGE AND STATE UNIVERSITY
BELL,DAVID A $203,920.98 MACON STATE COLLEGE
KAUFMAN,DANIEL JOSEPH $203,344.08 GEORGIA GWINNETT COLLEGE
HARDEN,THOMAS K $181,254.18 CLAYTON STATE UNIVERSITY
BROWN,FRANK D $178,810.50 COLUMBUS STATE UNIVERSITY
BLOODWORTH,WILLIAM A $176,978.82 AUGUSTA STATE UNIVERSITY
LELAND,DOROTHY J $175,138.50 GEORGIA COLLEGE AND STATE UNIVERSITY
JONES,THOMAS Z $173,581.98 ARMSTRONG ATLANTIC STATE UNIVERSITY
ROSSBACHER,LISA A $173,044.62 SOUTHERN POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY
FREEMAN,EVERETTE J $172,058.04 ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY
RIVERS,LARRY E $171,400.08 FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
BROWN,CARLTON E $170,564.00 SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY
KIRACOFE,DOROTHY L $164,847.50 COASTAL GEORGIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
HYNES,THOMAS J $162,988.52 UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA
NESBITT,MARTHA T $159,420.12 GAINESVILLE STATE COLLEGE
BURRAN,JAMES $158,319.12 DALTON STATE COLLEGE
SIRENO,PETER J $157,858.50 DARTON COLLEGE
BRIDGES,DAVID CURTIS $157,000.08 ABRAHAM BALDWIN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
LILLY,TORRI $156,999.96 SOUTH GEORGIA COLLEGE
FEDERINKO,RICHARD J $154,637.58 MIDDLE GEORGIA COLLEGE
PIERCE,JOHN R $153,867.00 GEORGIA HIGHLANDS COLLEGE
WILKERSON,THOMAS A $153,500.04 BAINBRIDGE COLLEGE
WEILL,LAWRENCE V $152,897.58 GORDON COLLEGE
BLACK,JOHN BRYANT $147,030.00 EAST GEORGIA COLLEGE
BOYLAN,PETER J $144,960.00 GEORGIA MILITARY COLLEGE
TRICOLI,ANTHONY SAMUEL $142,500.06 GEORGIA PERIMETER COLLEGE
PALMER,DAVID ALLEN $132,187.18 WAYCROSS COLLEGE
MCGAHA,GARY A $115,220.48 ATLANTA METROPOLITAN COLLEGE
HANES,MICHAEL L $89,652.02 GEORGIA SOUTHWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY
SCOTT,JULIUS S $83,598.00 SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY
SIEGEL,BETTY L $60,000.00 KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
LOSTY,BARBARA $33,121.15 WAYCROSS COLLEGE
SETHNA,BEHERUZ N $15,736.16 UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA
But you need to cut classes and raise tuition. Makes you wonder. I think they need to close the gap betwwn the highest and the lowest.
interesting
April 6th, 2010
4:57 pm
Interesting this takes place during tax refund season. I wonder how many refunds did the state of Georgia rob people of.
Not a State Employee
April 6th, 2010
4:59 pm
“But you need to cut classes and raise tuition. Makes you wonder. I think they need to close the gap betwwn the highest and the lowest.”
That’s sounds like gov’t employee logic.. your analogy is akin to saying the manager of 7/11 should have a salary close to the manager of a walmart..
N
April 6th, 2010
5:07 pm
Sounds right. In line with all the other positive reports on the economy. I am sure most people on here will find a way to spin it as bad news, just like they did with the 163k job gain in March.
Living the Dream
April 6th, 2010
5:37 pm
Intersting list Another State Employee. However, I am certain that some of your figures are not correct. Michael Haynes has not been the President of Georgia Southwestern in over 3 years. With that said, you probably got this list from an outdated website and their TRUE salaries are probably much higher than you have posted.
Mama Says
April 6th, 2010
5:51 pm
It’s good to see the state has collected more of our money than they have been. Hah, back to the good olde days
Free food in lobby
April 6th, 2010
9:53 pm
Another State Employee—-The salaries you posted do not reflect the additional salary funds from foundation money. These amounts range from 30,000.00 to 100,000.00+ each year per president at each college.
Free food in lobby
April 6th, 2010
9:56 pm
I hope the good ole boys do not start spending the extra funds!!! OH MY GOD –I forgot who I was talking about.
James
April 7th, 2010
10:49 am
This is good news.
State Employee's Husband
April 7th, 2010
1:09 pm
This state government is a dog. The sooner they cycle out the better for the entire state, unless you are a crony.
State Employee's Husband
April 7th, 2010
1:10 pm
I would rather give my money to a good charity. At least they would help people who need it and not those who already have.