(The Center Square) – Georgia House Democrats defeated legislation that would have allowed Georgia cities and counties to use a penny sales tax for property tax relief in a rare Saturday special session.
Property taxes increased by more than 50% in some Georgia counties, said Bonaire Republican Shaw Blackmon.
Senate Bill 33 requires the General Assembly to approve local legislation before cities and counties can ask voters to approve the penny tax on the November ballot. The final vote on the more than 80 local referendums presented to the House on Saturday morning was 95-67.
Blackmon named three counties in which the penny tax would bring in millions to offset property taxes. In Floyd County, it would bring in $20 million annually, in Forsyth, $60 million to $70 million and in Gwinnett, $250 million. He called out the opposing party for their votes.
“Republicans have continued to offer opportunities at relief, and sadly, Democrats have now twice blocked and denied their own voters across this state a chance at meaningful tax relief,” Blackmon said.
Atlanta Democrat Tanya Miller said it is a “bait and switch.”
“The vote today is for no new taxes,” said Miller, the Democratic nominee for attorney general. “We are down here fighting for the affordability of life for the people of Georgia and we will not, under the pressure of this special session, allow Republicans to come down here with a bait and switch with a new sales tax for you.”
The issue is not partisan, said Rep. Chas Cannon, R-Moultrie.
“If anything, this is a great opportunity for us as a body to have a major bipartisan agreement,” Cannon said. “And I think it would be great for all of us to take credit for solving an issue that impacts so many Georgians in this state.”
The House will consider the bills again on Monday.
Lawmakers united in approving a two-week extension of the fuel tax moratorium with a vote of 161-0. Gov. Brian Kemp called for a state of emergency in May as gas prices hovered around $4 due to the conflict in Iran.