Building an information base so that a state or local official can deal effectively with a complicated issue is the goal of the Institute's research and policy analysis experts. This outreach can take the form of background research for a legislative committee, conducting a public opinion survey, or addressing a tricky legal question.

The Institute is noted for its research assistance and policy analysis for legislative committees and special commissions responsible for developing state environmental policies. In 2004, an Institute faculty member coordinated study findings and drafted the final report for the Land Conservation Partnership Advisory Council. The group's recommendations, which called for innovative partnerships between the public and private sectors, were eventually signed into law. Other environmental policy work included completion of the final report for the three-year trout stream buffer project, which focused on how the recent law was being implemented.

A new program in development, the Georgia Tax and Expenditure Data Center (TED), will bring together data from several state agencies to provide users with a more complete look at local government revenues and expenditures in the state. Meanwhile, faculty continued to use the Georgia Economic Modeling System (GEMS) to provide clients with specialized economic impact analyses relating to such topics as changes in tax policies, economic development initiatives, transportation projects, and tourism.

The quarterly statewide Peach State Poll helps decision makers read the public pulse on timely policy issues. In 2004, Georgians expressed their views on such issues as Pre-K education, the economy, same-sex marriage, electronic voting, poverty, and the government's willingness to listen to constituents. The Survey and Data Services Unit also conducted specialized surveys for clients, as well as general data collection and data analysis services.

The work program for the National Center for the Study of Counties continued to evolve. Research conducted in 2004 in collaboration with the National Association of Counties (NACo) queried officials from all 50 states on topics like the impact of an aging population on county services, open space/green space protection programs, land-use planning, and priorities of county commissioners. A study of the effects of variations in state property tax on county revenue streams was also prepared for NACo.