Georgia Trend Daily – Jan. 10, 2024
Jan. 10, 2024 Georgia.gov
December Tax Revenues Down 5%; Adjusted YTD Down 2.5%
Staff reports that the State of Georgia’s net tax collections in the month of December totaled nearly $3.05 billion, for a decrease of $159.1 million, or -5 percent, compared to December 2022, when net tax collections approached $3.21 billion for the month. Year-to-date, net tax revenue totaled roughly $16.1 billion, for an increase of $253 million, or 1.6 percent, over the same half-year stretch in FY 2023, an increase that was driven principally by the collection of the state’s motor fuel excise tax that was suspended during the first half of last year.
Jan. 10, 2024 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Legislators Return for a Big Year
Tharon Johnson reports, January can be a rough time for a lot of people. The holidays are over; we’re all still pretending that we’re going to make progress on our New Year’s resolutions, and it’s about as cold as it ever gets in Georgia. Still, take a moment to be grateful that you’re not heading to our state’s Capitol for the legislative session in a presidential election year.
Jan. 10, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Goodwill to help job seekers plug into Georgia’s surging EV industry
Zachary Hansen reports that a new workforce training program aims to help hundreds of job seekers begin a career in one of Georgia’s fastest-growing industries: electric vehicles. Goodwill of North Georgia and professional services firm Accenture are partnering to train people in EV charger maintenance.
Jan. 10, 2024 Savannah Morning News
$1M grant to address Savannah’s ‘tree inequity,’ offer non-traditional job path
John Deem reports that a $1 million grant aims to address “tree inequity” in Savannah while removing barriers to green careers for a dozen local residents. Through the Savannah Tree Foundation’s Canopy Corps, the funding will support three annual paid apprenticeships over a four-year period designed to introduce female and minority candidates to an urban forestry industry now dominated by white men, said STF Executive Director Zoe Rinker.
Jan. 10, 2024 Capitol Beat News
Georgia schools getting electric buses through federal grant
Dave Williams reports that seven Georgia school districts will receive nearly $60 million in federal funding for new electric and low-emission buses. The Georgia grant is part of $1 billion going to school systems across the country to pay for clean buses. The money comes from the bipartisan infrastructure spending bill Congress passed in 2021.
Jan. 10, 2024 Gwinnett Daily Post
Georgia Trend Highlights Big Names From Gwinnett Among State’s Most Influential Residents
Curt Yeomans reports that Georgia Trend magazine’s annual Influential Georgians edition has some key Gwinnett ties — including the magazine’s Georgian of the Year, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian, who lives in Duluth. Georgia Trend’s annual 100 Most Influential Georgians list that runs alongside the Georgian of the Year article includes Gwinnett County Commission chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson and Gwinnett Chamber President and CEO Nick Masino.
Jan. 10, 2024 Fresh Take Georgia
Atlanta homeless youth program helps students attend college
Charyti Benjamin reports, Jay Lee is an 23-year-old Atlanta native and college student. He wakes up every morning, feeds his pet bearded dragon Joker, hangs out with friends, and works at a photography business. Unlike your average college student, however, Lee is homeless.
Jan. 10, 2024 Marietta Daily Journal
Cobb Legislators Call for Compromise on School Board Map
Jake Busch reports that Cobb legislators sought to strike a more conciliatory tone on the second day of meetings about redrawing the Cobb Board of Education electoral map, with some Democrats and Republicans calling for a good faith effort at a compromise on redistricting. However, state Sen. Ed Setzler, R-Acworth, said he planned to move forward with the map he presented in the Georgia Senate earlier Tuesday, over objections from Democrats in the Cobb County Legislative Delegation.
Jan. 10, 2024 State Affairs
School vouchers, transportation, other funding on lawmakers’ ‘to do’ list
Jill Jordan Sieder reports, one of the most controversial issues among legislators in 2023 is sure to return this year – the funding of private school education. Senate Bill 233, also known as the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act, would give families up to $6,500 per academic year per child in state funding to pay for private school tuition or home schooling.
Jan. 10, 2024 GPB
‘Lawmakers’: Democrats prioritize maternal health on Day 2
Sarah Kallis reports that Day 2 of the Georgia General Assembly’s 2024 legislative session did not bring the same busy energy as Day 1. But before adjourning, Democrats called attention to jarring statistics about pregnancy-related deaths. Georgia is among the worst states for maternal mortality.
Jan. 10, 2024 Georgia Recorder
VP Kamala Harris calls Georgia ‘ground zero’ for voting rights in 2024 election season
Stanley Dunlap reports, on Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris called on Georgia voting rights advocates and elected officials to continue to fight for expanded access to the ballot box as the election cycle gears up for this November’s presidential election. Harris’ message was relayed during a roundtable discussion held at The Gathering Spot in Atlanta as the second-in-command to Democratic President Joe Biden was making her 10th trip in Georgia since becoming vice president in January 2021.
Jan. 10, 2024 Capitol Beat News
Sports betting bill gains early passage in state Senate committee
Dave Williams reports that a Georgia Senate committee passed a sports betting bill Tuesday on just the second day of this year’s legislative session, kicking off a debate that’s likely to last all 40 days under the Gold Dome. The Regulated Industries & Utilities Committee voted 8-3 to let Georgians bet on sports either online or at remote terminals or “kiosks.”
Jan. 10, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia 6th: Richardson plans to run against fellow Democrat McBath for Congress
Greg Bluestein reports, Cobb County Commissioner Jerica Richardson said Tuesday that she will stay in the race for a newly drawn, solidly Democratic west Atlanta congressional district — even if it puts her on a collision course with one of the state’s leading Democrats. Richardson’s decision sets up a potential primary battle against U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, who said last month that she will switch to the 6th Congressional District after Republican legislators drew her out of her suburban seat for the second time in two years.
