Fact Sheet: Unpacking The Latest Fines and Fees Trends Across Georgia

In Georgia, local governments that rely heavily on fines and fees end up criminalizing residents who struggle to pay, with the burden falling hardest on communities with high poverty rates and significant Black populations. This fact sheet explores these trends using data from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, alongside poverty and demographic information from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. This fact sheet sheds light on how these financial policies reinforce inequality and offers lawmakers recommendations to address these issues at the policy level.

Key Findings:

• Among localities with a heavy reliance on fines and fees, 64 had poverty rates exceeding 13 percent.
• 23 localities with Black populations above the state average–31 percent–showed fines and fees reliance of 20 percent or more
• In 2022, 44 percent of fines and fees revenue came from communities with higher-than-average Black populations.
• From 2016 to 2022, the number of municipalities relying heavily on fines and fees decreased by 27 percent.

Recommendations:

• Avoid regressive revenue policies and implement proactive revenue policies.
• Expand sales tax to boost state and local revenue.