(The Center Square) – Sixty-six Georgia cities and counties hoping for a 1-cent sales tax to offset property taxes will not get a chance to put it before voters.
Democrats in the House of Representatives voted against the bills, which needed a two-thirds majority to pass, on Saturday, and didn’t change their mind when given a chance to reconsider on Monday.
Senate Bill 33 established the penny tax as part of an effort to offset property taxes that have risen by as much as 50% in some communities.
House Speaker Jon Burns called the situation a “hornet’s nest” as the parties held the same, but shorter, debate as they did on Saturday.
“Is it not true that we should not be adding any new taxes during an affordability crisis?” Duluth Democrat Rep. Ruwa Romman asked during parliamentary inquiry.
“Mr. Speaker, is it not true that the local legislation that we’re attempting to pass is actually not a tax increase becasue 17.2% of all sales taxes are paid by non-Georgians when they travel to this state because we are a state in which we do business and tourists come and they pay this tax, they do not pay any property tax?” said Dawsonville Republican Will Wade.
The bill failed 99-74.
Property taxes were one of Burns’ priorities when the 2026 legislative session began. After proposals requiring counties to lower their property taxes failed, lawmakers settled on Senate Bill 33. The legislation freezes assessments at the rate of inflation and gives counties the option to ask voters for approval for the one-penny sales tax, but only with legislative approval of a local referendum.
Some local referendums remain on the House calendar for reconsideration but are not likely to pass.
The local referendums are also on track to fail in the Senate. The bills did not get enough votes on Monday, but the Senate will reconsider.
“Traditionally, the Senate has given the courtesey to local senators that represent their district by approving their local bills that don’t effect the other districs,” said Senate Pro Tem Larry Walker III, who presided over Monday’s proceedings. “That’s been the tradition of the Senate and I am sad to see we are moving away from that.”