A group charged with changing Georgia’s tax code will hold their final public hearings this week in North Georgia. Tonight they’ll be in Rome and on Thursday they’ll travel to Gainesville.

The Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness has been traveling the state. The group, made up of economists and business leaders, is charged with making changes to a tax system they call a “patchwork,” dating back to 1931.

Business owner Gerry Harkins is on the council. He says they need to find a way to pay for things without hurting future economic development and average citizens, who are showing up at the forums.

“You really need to hear from the guy who’s in the trenches who’s fighting every day to make a buck when conditions are not conducive to doing that.”

Harkins says they have until January to come up with recommendations for lawmakers. He says some changes could be significant and considered first of their kind.

Tags: Georgia taxes, Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians, Gerry Harkins