Georgia Tax Court official outlines startup budget and staffing needs

The representative for the newly formed Georgia Tax Court told the Senate subcommittee the House's adjustments put the court on track for initial operations but that the court needs staff and contracts to begin work.

He said the governor's original request assumed carryover from the executive branch and therefore initially showed zero continuation; the House added funds for operations, software maintenance and equipment so the court can open. The representative outlined specific line items: funding to increase the judge's salary to the maximum authorized level under OCGA's salary statute, one staff attorney (estimated salary ~$135,000) and a court administrator (~$60,000 salary), plus a line for contracts including an estimated $3,032,000 MOU with the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), internet-research services and conflict services for early operations.

He estimated the court's initial caseload at about 500 cases a year, mostly individual income tax matters, and said the tax tribunal's office space (previously housed with OSHA) and other operational arrangements will continue into the tax court.

Senators asked about caseload and staffing; the representative said three personnel (judge, one attorney and an administrator) will be a minimal startup team and that business cases may require longer processing. No formal action was taken at the hearing.