Rice: Car 'Birthday Tax' Bill Good For Dealers, Buyers

Backers of a House plan passed on Thursday to cancel the annual so-called car birthday tax, say a majority of Georgians support them.

H.B. 480 replaces the current car registration tax with a one-time, seven-percent title fee.

The fees would help fund the state's ailing trauma care system.

Republican House Motor Vehicles Chairman Tom Rice of Norcross says the bill's a good deal for car buyers, and would also help revive a sluggish car market:

"There are about 1.8 - 1 point 8.5 million transactions in 2008, cars and other vehicles, so we think that obviously a goodly number of those should be supportive of this legislation because, either one way or another, their not going to pay ad valorem, or not pay sales tax - or not pay both."

Responding to comments by Governor Sonny Perdue calling the bill, "convoluted," Rice says the legislation will be tweaked before it goes before the Senate in the next few weeks.

Click here for more GPB News coverage about H.B. 480.

5 Gwinnett Cities to Stop Using Red Light Cameras

Five cities in Gwinnett County are stopping the use of red light cameras at busy intersections, saying they are too costly even though they have reduced accidents.

Norcross and Suwanee have removed the cameras, Snellville and Lilburn have suspended their programs for study and Duluth says it won't renew its lease when it expires in May.

The cameras monitor and record red light violations.

By summer only one government in Gwinnett will still be using the cameras - the county government.

Officials say the cameras are working, with violations, accidents and injuries all down. But the program can cost cities $400,000 a year and the number of citations have dwindled since a state law mandates a one-second addition to the yellow phase at all camera intersections.

(AP)

Businesses Opening in Columbus, Norcross

Two digital imaging companies have announced plans to bring several hundred jobs to Georgia over the next few years.

YesVideo is hiring 300 people for a regional plant set to open in Norcross in Gwinnett County next month.

The Santa Clara, California-based firm converts home movies and videos to DVDs and other digital formats.

Steven Bush is the city's economic development manager. He says the jobs are quality positions:

"They are going to be a lot of tech jobs; a lot of jobs that require some training.”

Bush says salaries will be in the mid-40's. He also notes that the conversion service is available at 30,000 retail locations, including Walgreens, CVS and Costco.

The firm is the second high-tech company to open its doors in Norcross recently: Solar powercell maker Suneva opened a $75 million dollar plant in Norcross late last year.

Meanwhile, in west Georgia, Kodak is adding on a third production line at their Columbus plant.

A Kodak spokesperson says they'll add another 50 spots to the current 250 jobs over the next three years.

The plant makes digital printing plates for the packaging and printing industry.

Click here for more Georgia business stories.

More Jobs Coming to Columbus, Norcross

Two companies have announced in recent days that they would soon add several hundred jobs in Georgia.

YesVideo, a company that converts home movies and videos to DVDs and other digital formats, will bring 300 jobs to Norcross next month.

The Santa Clara, Ca.-based firm says they have has 30,000 retail locations including Walgreens, Costco and CVS.

"Metro Atlanta is well-centered, geographically, to service the entire eastern seaboard, Midwest, and south central areas with cost-effective ground logistics," YesVideo Chief Operating Officer Gregory Ayres said.

On Friday, Kodak announced that they were ramping up a third production line at their Columbus plant.

Kodak officials say the just-completed $15 million dollar investment will add another 50 jobs in coming years, bringing the total staffing to 300.

The facility makes digital plates for the printing industry.

On the red side of the employment ledger, however, JP Morgan Chase says they plan to close a credit card customer service center in Kennesaw by mid-2010, eliminating 730 jobs.

The center primarily worked with the now defunct electronics retailer, Circuit City.

Chase didn’t say when the cuts would begin, but says employees will be eligible to apply for other jobs in the company.

(The AP contributed to this report)

Click here for more GPB News coverage about Georgia's economy.

Solar cell manufacturing firm comes to state

Georgia is getting its first solar manufacturing plant. It was announced by state officials yesterday that Suniva, Inc. will locate its first solar cell facility in the metro Atlanta area, in Norcross. Creation of 100 jobs is expected in the first year.

Lumberyard destroyed in massive fire

A 60-year-old Norcross lumberyard went up in a massive blaze last night. The fire destroyed the Norcross Supply Company, a family-run business since 1946. The fire was reported just after 6pm Wednesday, and soon engulfed the yard. High winds, cold temperatures and a dangerous storm of ash were the elements firefighters had to battle. The lumber supply company specialized in cedar wood.

CheckFree to be bought

Norcross-based CheckFree is being bought out by Fiserv Incorporated. Wisconsin-based Fiserv provides information management systems and CheckFree handles electronic billing and payment services and online banking. Together the two companies employ 27,000 people. No word yet on potential layoffs. The deal is said to be worth more than 4-billion dollars.