ATLANTA – Speaker Pro Tempore of the Georgia House of Representatives Mark Burkhalter (R-Johns Creek) today said that a new poll released by Insider Advantage showing that 87 percent of Georgians support elimination of the “birthday tax” on vehicles is evidence that motorists hate having to pay taxes to drive.
The poll, released today by the Atlanta polling company, showed that every cross section of Georgians overwhelming support Burkhalter’s proposal to eliminate or phase out the ad valorem tax on vehicles which is due each year on the birthday of the owner of the vehicle.
“The people of Georgia have spoken loudly,” said Burkhalter. “They don’t want to have to pay the government to own a car, truck, sport utility or motorcycle. It is especially painful that this bill comes due on your birthday.
“Motorists already pay plenty of taxes to drive including annual emission inspections, tire disposal fees, driver’s license fees, sales taxes on vehicle purchases, and sales and excise taxes on gasoline,” Burkhalter said.
According to updated U.S. Census figures for 2005, 93 percent of Georgia households own at least one vehicle. The Insider Advantage statewide poll of 500 Georgians showed 87 percent supported the proposal to eliminate or reduce the tax. Among whites the support was 78 percent, African Americans 90 percent, women 77 percent, men 82 percent and seniors 67 percent.
“These are remarkable numbers,” Burkhalter said. “Since so many people in Georgia rely on a personal vehicle to get around, it is no wonder they want the tax cut.”
The Speaker Pro Tempore is preparing to introduce legislation on the tax cut shortly.
“We are carefully examining the budget to find ways to cut costs, review the surplus and find other ways to make this tax cut a reality,” Burkhalter said.
Georgia is only one of 26 states that impose a yearly property tax on motor vehicles. Burkhalter’s plan is to eliminate the tax by refunding counties the cost of the collection of such tax, just as the state has been doing since the late 1990s with the state homestead exemption on residential property taxes.
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