Government Asks

Ask your State & Local Government Representatives to support restaurants

The GRA is fighting hard for our industry and is working to ensure Governor Kemp and all elected officials are aware of the negative impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on restaurants. In a united effort to keep restaurants serving their communities once this has passed, we encourage you to contact your state and local representatives.

Taking action is just a couple clicks away! Click here to send an email or a tweet to your representatives.

Georgia COVID-19 Restaurant Impact Snapshot

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Local Asks:

  • Allow propwerly licensed restaurants to sell mixed drink cocktails for off-premise consumption.

  • Promote and support adoption of the Georgia Safety Promise.

  • Taxes on Restaurants: Defer excise tax payments and waive penalties for at least three (3) months with a payment plan option. Any penalties for delay in payment of those three months would be waived.

  • Elimination of Personal Property Taxes for restaurants through December 31, 2020, with a payment plan option (beginning in second quarter of 2021) with payments deferred through the rest of 2021 with no penalties or interest.

  • Business Fees: Reduce 2021 fees related to the operation of restaurants that includes a payment plan option (beginning second quarter of 2021) deferring payments through the rest of 2021 with no penalties or interest.

    • Examples for consideration: annual business licenses, alcoholic beverage licenses, environmental health permit fees, alcohol pouring permits, solid waste fees, public utilities (including water usage fees) and grease trap permits, and construction permit fees.

  • Tax Credit: Allow tax credit on real estate property taxes through December 31, 2020 for any restaurant that either owns its property or reimburses its landlord for real estate taxes.

  • Reduction of property taxes by 25%. State government to replace the revenue stream to counties and cities through CARES Act funding.

  • Make the allowance of restaurants with on premise consumption licenses to sell mixed drinks, beer and wine for off premise consumption permanent.

  • Find ways to promote and support restaurants offering outdoor dining. Consider offering tax credits or funding for the purchase of equipment.

State Asks:

  • Business Fees: Reduce 2021 fees related to the operation of restaurants that includes a payment plan option (beginning second quarter of 2021) deferring payments through the rest of 2021 with no penalties or interest.

    • Examples for consideration: annual business licenses, alcoholic beverage licenses, and all state permit fees waived.

  • Use additional CARES Act funding to assist local governments to supplement loss of taxes if they choose to reduce property and other business taxes by 25%.

  • Georgia Job Credit program: Allow an expansion to employers in the retail and restaurant business as well as expansion outside of opportunity zones and reduction of new job creation metric.

  • Tax Credits: Expand the investment tax credit to include retail and hospitality companies. Consider the creation of a state version of the employee rehire credit. Increase the retraining credit cap or utilization of the credit more viable for small businesses.

  • Issue an executive order that streamlines restaurant/business license applications and renewals.