Georgia's Gov. Kemp and fellow GOP leaders promise new state income tax rebates

abcnews.go.com:

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Republican legislative leaders want to give another round of income tax rebates, thanks to state financial reserves that continue to rise

ATLANTA — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Republican legislative leaders want to issue another round of income tax rebates, thanks to state financial reserves that continue to rise.

The leaders announced a proposal Tuesday to give refunds of up to $250 to single filers, up to $375 to single adults who head a household with dependents and refunds of up to $500 to married couples filing jointly.

Georgia issued similar rebates in 2022 as Kemp ran for reelection, and again in 2023. The rebates cost about $1.1 billion then. Legislators would have to approve the plan next year, but passage is likely as Republicans are expected to maintain their majorities in the General Assembly.

The announcement comes as Georgians continue to vote ahead of the Nov. 5 Election Day, and could be campaign fodder for a handful of Republican incumbents and challengers who are trying to win state House seats. It also allowed Kemp to sound out themes about inflation that align with Republican Donald Trump's campaign for president, which is trying to return Georgia's 16 votes to the GOP column after Democrat Joe Biden narrowly won the state in 2020.

“We all know that even if inflation has fallen, high prices haven't,” Kemp said in prepared remarks. “Families see that every day when they go to the grocery store or the gas pump.”

Some people with lower incomes pay little to no state income tax.

The governor also said the measure, like his decision to suspend the state tax on gasoline and diesel fuel, was something he could do to help people in the eastern half of the state who were harmed by