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Gov. Brian Kemp unveils $1 billion rebate, tax-rate cut and education investments in final State of the State
Summary
In his final State of the State address, Gov. Brian P. Kemp touted record reserves and proposed a $1 billion one-time rebate, a cut to bring the personal and corporate tax rate to 4.99%, expanded education and workforce funding, a $2,000 one-time pay supplement for state employees and continued public-safety initiatives.
Governor Brian P. Kemp used a joint session of the Georgia General Assembly to outline his administration's fiscal record and priorities, proposing a one-time $1 billion tax rebate and more permanent reductions to state income taxes while promising new investments in education, workforce training and public safety.
Kemp called the state's finances "stronger, more prosperous, and safer today than it was in January 2019," and said recent actions have returned tens of billions to taxpayers. "With this rebate... will return or save the average filer $250 and a married couple up to 500," he said, framing the measure as relief for households facing high living costs.
The governor proposed a 20-basis-point reduction in the state personal and corporate income tax rate to 4.99%, a change he said would fulfill a campaign pledge to bring the rate under 5% earlier than planned. He also defended the state's fiscal posture, saying Georgia's rainy day fund stands above $10 billion and stressing the administration's practice of funding capital projects with cash to reduce future interest costs.
Kemp highlighted education funding and workforce initiatives, including a proposed $325 million endowment for a need-based university "dream scholarship," expanded medical residency funding and investments in workforce training. "We're now putting $2,000,000,000 additional dollars toward higher education in Georgia than when I first took office," he said, and noted proposed funding for medical residency slots and health-care education facilities.
On compensation for public employees, Kemp proposed a $2,000 one-time pay supplement for all state employees, including educators and public-safety officers, and described a plan to increase retirement-plan matching for eligible law-enforcement officers.
Kemp also cited public-safety accomplishments and anti-human-trafficking efforts, saying the attorney general’s human-trafficking prosecution unit has secured convictions and that the administration will add further legislation "modeled after Trey's law" to expand protections.
The address mixed accomplishments and new proposals; Kemp closed by urging continued fiscal restraint and cooperation in the remaining 37 legislative days. The joint session dissolved after the address and the Senate resumed its calendar.
