Atlanta Or Houston?

[10 feet tall]

I love Atlanta, but they need to eliminate the GA state income tax like Texas.

[Peachcity]

Originally Posted by 10 feet tall

I love Atlanta, but they need to eliminate the GA state income tax like Texas.

Then raise property tax to make up for it like Texas?

[johnatl]

Originally Posted by Peachcity

Then raise property tax to make up for it like Texas?

And then deregulate the utilities like Texas for a whopping rate increase.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by Peachcity

Then raise property tax to make up for it like Texas?

Is there a state property tax in Texas?

[Newsboy]

It's amazing all these people who diss on Georgia's income tax and praise states like Texas, Florida and Tennessee (?!) which don't have one as being better deals economically. Do they not realize -- nay IGNORANT! -- how much more property, gas and sales taxes are in those states? At 2-3% our state income tax is not prohibitive -- a pain in the ass to file maybe but not breaking anybody (especially when you don't make anything in the first place and get most I it back).

YOU WANT TAXES? Try living in Alabama which taxes everything from baby formula to prescription drugs, your car and your mobile home, and has not just state income tax but OCCUPATIONAL Tax which means a portion of your check gets taken out by whatever municipaliy (city) you just happen to work in!

In spite of our state's economic woes we have one of least restrictive, fairest and most evenly distributed tax burdens in the country -- and we get a pretty good return on that investment still!

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

It's amazing all these people who diss on Georgia's income tax and praise states like Texas, Florida and Tennessee (?!) which don't have one as being better deals economically. Do they not realize -- nay IGNORANT! -- how much more property, gas and sales taxes are in those states? At 2-3% our state income tax is not prohibitive -- a pain in the ass to file maybe but not breaking anybody (especially when you don't make anything in the first place and get most I it back).

YOU WANT TAXES? Try living in Alabama which taxes everything from baby formula to prescription drugs, your car and your mobile home, and has not just state income tax but OCCUPATIONAL Tax which means a portion of your check gets taken out by whatever municipaliy (city) you just happen to work in!

In spite of our state's economic woes we have one of least restrictive, fairest and most evenly distributed tax burdens in the country -- and we get a pretty good return on that investment still!

I'm really more interested in the overall tax burden. Sites I've seen suggest that state and local taxes are lower in Texas, Florida Alabama, and Tennessee than Georgia.

Tax Burdens by State - NYTimes.com

I don't understand why some of you seem to love taxes. Do send what you should have been assessed by Amazon to Georgia on every purchase?

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

I'm really more interested in the overall tax burden. Sites I've seen suggest that state and local taxes are lower in Texas, Florida Alabama, and Tennessee than Georgia.

Tax Burdens by State - NYTimes.com

I don't understand why some of you seem to love taxes. Do send what you should have been assessed by Amazon to Georgia on every purchase?

It's a trade-off. Taxes are a pain.

However, it's also very nice to see wide paved shoulders and consistent turn lanes on major through-ways, something you don't always see in this metro.

It isn't just the taxes collected, either, but how that money is spent that can make a difference. Some areas of the metro seem to have a different set of priorities from other parts of the metro in that regard.

[Newsboy]

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR MATHMAN! Spend some time living in Alabama and you will see the reality of an inconsistent and illogical taxation system. Wealthy areas are great, poor areas are worst of the worst and there's very little in between. I'm no lover of taxes but I understand the concept of "community responsibility" and paying your share to everyone's benefit. That's why we fund schools in this state mainly thru PROPERTY TAXES ... and why places in Fayette, Cobb and North Fulton have such great schools. But in rural places where property isn't valued as much the state MAKES UP THE DIFFERENCE by giving those school districts more state revenue collected from the income and sales taxes you and I pay. Is there a fairer way to do it?