T.A. DeFeo | The Center Square contributor, Author at Sightseers' Delight

Georgia DOT awards $199M in projects, but rising costs could squelch future construction

August 4, 2022 T.A. DeFeo | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) — The Georgia Department of Transportation awarded another $199 million in June for road projects statewide, but state officials warned that road project costs are increasing. The state allocated the money to 37 projects across The Peach State. The board considered 53 projects in June and rejected 12; four others were withdrawn. During the July State Transportation Board meeting, GDOT officials said they are seeing a roughly 33% increase in the bid

Georgia cities such as Atlanta using COVID-19 relief funds to pay retention bonuses

August 3, 2022 T.A. DeFeo | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) — Local governments across Georgia are doling out federal COVID relief money to government employees as retention bonuses. In March 2021, the U.S. Treasury Department said the federal dollars were primarily intended to help governments “continue to support the public health response and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable economic recovery.” A subsequent Treasury Department rule expanded how governments could use the money, including giving “premium pay for essential workers.”

Kemp signs order to maintain moratorium on Georgia’s gasoline tax that expires on Sept. 12

August 3, 2022 T.A. DeFeo | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed an executive order to extend a suspension of the state’s excise tax on motor fuel sales, which was set to expire next week. The motor fuel order also applies to locomotive fuel, and the governor also renewed a state of emergency for supply chain disruptions. Both orders run through Sept. 12. “With 40-year high inflation, gas prices that are still far too high, and supply chains

Kemp to extend Georgia’s gas tax moratorium, possibly for another month

August 2, 2022 T.A. DeFeo | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is poised to extend the state’s moratorium on its gas tax, The Center Square has confirmed. Kemp, a Republican, is set to announce the extension on Wednesday, possibly for another month. A current gas tax suspension expires on Aug. 13. The news comes as gas prices in Georgia continue to drop but remain higher than they were a year ago. This week, AAA said the average price

Gas prices falling in Georgia, but are still higher than the same time last year

August 1, 2022 T.A. DeFeo | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) — Georgia motorists continue to see a bit of relief as gas prices drop, but they remain higher than a year ago. In Georgia, a gallon of regular unleaded gas averages $3.77, according to AAA. While the average is 13 cents less than a week ago and 59 cents less than a month ago, it is 81 cents higher than last year. According to AAA, Georgia motorists will pay $56.55 to fill

Georgia pension fund provides 1.5% cost of living adjustment to help retirees

August 1, 2022 T.A. DeFeo | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) — Retired Georgia state employees started receiving a 1.5% cost-of-living adjustment with their monthly benefit payment, which state lawmakers say is needed amid rising inflation. In passing the $30.2 billion fiscal 2023 state budget with House Bill 911, Georgia lawmakers allocated $119.6 million to increase the employer contribution rate for several retirement plans. The spending plan represented a roughly 10.8% increase over last year’s budget. In addition to the COLA for Employees’

Georgia officials unable to determine total amount spent on school supply program for teachers

July 29, 2022 T.A. DeFeo | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) — Georgia plans to give a $125 supplement to teachers in the state to offset the cost of classroom materials and ostensibly help students rebound from learning losses suffered amid the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Georgia officials cannot say how much money in total the state plans to give public school teachers as part of the “Back-to-School Supply Supplement” program. Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, announced the initiative targeting full-time public-school teachers and

Georgia Lottery raised $25.3B for educational purposes in last three decades

July 29, 2022 T.A. DeFeo | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) — The Georgia Lottery Corp. said it has raised more than $25.3 billion for education in Georgia since its inception nearly three decades ago. Numbers from the Georgia Lottery’s website indicate profits in fiscal 2022 were about $1.5 billion. That would roughly equal the Georgia Lottery’s announced profits in fiscal 2021, which marked the sixth consecutive year lottery profits exceeded $1 billion. Profits from the Georgia Lottery, which began in 1993, pay

Georgia Ports Authority had record freight volume in fiscal 2022 with 8% increase from 2021

July 28, 2022 T.A. DeFeo | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) — The Georgia Ports Authority saw a record freight volume during fiscal 2022, reporting an 8% increase in container volumes In June, the Port of Savannah handled a record 494,107 twenty-foot equivalent container units in total cargo, an increase of 10.6% over June 2021. For fiscal 2022, the port reported more than 5.7 million TEUs. Port officials say that West Coast labor talks, delayed access to rail at those ports and trade

Georgia non-adjusted unemployment numbers increase as economy dips into possible recession

July 28, 2022 T.A. DeFeo | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) — A week after reporting Georgia’s June seasonally adjusted unemployment rate hit an all-time low, new numbers show the state’s unemployment rate increased. Last week, officials said Georgia’s preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for June 2022 was 2.9%, below the national rate of 3.6%. The state’s rate decreased from 5.4% in June 2021. On Thursday, the Georgia Department of Labor said the state’s non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 3.3% in June,