January 25, 2008

 

 

 

Dear Georgia Employer Committee Members:

 

Recently, I announced that the $100 million unemployment insurance tax cut implemented in 2007 will be continued in 2008. Since 1999, Georgia employers have received over $1.7 billion in tax reductions through the efforts of the Georgia Department of Labor, working in partnership with Georgia employers.

 

This would not have been possible without the support of our Georgia Employer Committee partners. This public-private partnership also contributed to our success in returning unemployment insurance claimants back to work promptly. For the twelve months ending June 30, 2007, the average duration of Georgia claims was 11.1 weeks, while the national average was 15.1 weeks. Reducing the national average by four weeks resulted in a savings of more than $200 million in Georgia unemployment benefit payments.

 

I am pleased to report that the U.S. Department of Labor recently recognized the Georgia Department of Labor as “the top performer nationally for Unemployment Insurance Tax Operations.” Sound and efficient fiscal management of this program is fundamental to maintaining low tax rates.

 

As your Commissioner of Labor, I appreciate the bond between our employer committee members in Georgia and the Department of Labor. Thank you for your support, and remain confident that our partnership will continue to grow and produce significant benefits to our Georgia citizens.

 

 

Sincerely yours,

 

 

Michael Thurmond

 

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