ATLANTA --- House lawmakers are considering reviving the state sales tax on groceries to buoy Georgia's sagging revenues under a proposal that would reimburse residents through a tax credit.

State Rep. Chuck Sims has unsuccessfully sponsored proposals for several years that would restore the sales tax on groceries for the first time since the late 1990s.

But as the state grapples with a multibillion dollar budget shortfall, his plan suddenly has fresh momentum. The latest version passed a key committee this week, and House Speaker Glenn Richardson's office said it could reach a vote before the full chamber next week.

"It's going to get a fair hearing in the House," said Richardson spokesman Marshall Guest.

The plan is a significant change from Mr. Sims' initial proposal to restore the grocery sales tax over a two-year period, which he hoped would raise close to $1 billion a year.

Instead, the latest draft would remove the state sales tax exemption on groceries and replace it with an income tax credit.

The credit, which could be claimed in an income tax return, would be determined by using a standard deduction based on family size. A family could also save receipts from grocery purchases.

Mr. Sims said the change could capture as much as $250 million a year, mostly from out-of-state shoppers who buy groceries from Georgia retailers. The plan was approved Thursday by the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee.

"We as a state have to look at the fact that revenue is not there, and we're going to have to do something to enhance revenue, to pay our teachers and police officers," said Mr. Sims, R-Ambrose.

Georgia lawmakers voted to repeal the state sales tax at the urging of then-Gov. Zell Miller in 1996. The tax cut, which was phased in, was eventually worth $700 million each year. Local governments continue to levy taxes on groceries.

The House's leaders have been hesitant to back tax increases to fill Georgia's deficit, arguing that increasing the tax burden could stifle economic growth.

Meanwhile, Georgia tax collections took a nosedive in February as cash-strapped residents filed returns early, hoping for a windfall.

State money managers reported Friday that revenues plunged a whopping 34.8 percent, tumbling $336 million from the same month the year before.

Gov. Sonny Perdue said the state Department of Revenue has shipped out 48,000 more tax refund checks in February than it had the same month the year before.

That suggests cash-strapped Georgians are filling out their returns quickly.

Overall, tax collections are down 7.3 percent for the fiscal year set that ends June 30.

The figures released Friday show personal income taxes plunged 63.6 percent.