Council on tax reform seeks input

The Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians brings a fact-finding session to Augusta today.

The council was established by the Georgia Legislature to examine the state's tax code, including income taxes and sales- and use-tax exemptions, and suggest reforms.

The Augusta session will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Masters Ballroom at the DoubleTree Hotel, 2651 Perimeter Parkway.

Led by A.D. Frazier, former chief operating officer for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, the council will hear public comments and answer questions at the session, project manager Donna Moore said.

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle said issues the council will face include preserving the state's bond rating and avoiding complicating business operations by changing the tax code "midstream."

The council is expected to consider imposing taxes on groceries and services such as haircuts and cutting state income and corporate taxes but will not examine property taxes. Its recommendations will go before the Legislature and Georgia's new governor for approval next year.

Local tax advocate Lloyd Newsome, chairman of Georgia Fair Tax, said he would expect the council to raise taxes.

"It's not revenue neutral," Newsome said of the council's charge. "I would be willing to guess our taxes are going up."