Tennessee has a big budget surplus. We also have a lot of needs.
As Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerri Green notes:
And our public schools are still not getting the investment Tennessee’s children deserve. The latest NEA data puts Tennessee’s average teacher salary at about $61,222, ranking 40th nationally, while we are dead last in the nation on dollars spent per pupil in public schools.
Green addresses the budget surplus directly, noting she would invest it where it would yield maximum impact - and these new investments would not require any new taxes.
I would use this surplus to make immediate, meaningful investments in the things Tennesseans have been asking for:
Make childcare more affordable and work to eliminate the state’s childcare assistance waitlist.
Strengthen public schools, including better pay and support for teachers and staff.
Invest in rural healthcare so families aren’t forced to drive an hour—or more—for basic medical care.
Expand access to mental health and substance-use treatment.
Invest in roads and infrastructure that communities have been waiting years to build.
Strengthen services for children and families, including foster care and special education.
Put more resources into workforce development and apprenticeships so Tennesseans can get good-paying jobs without taking on crushing college debt.
And here’s what I want Tennesseans to understand - we can start doing these things without raising taxes.
I noted recently that the state should invest in schools - significantly. It would take $1.9 billion to catch up to Mississippi in investment in schools. A decade and a half of GOP rule has led Tennessee to the bottom in school funding.
It’s time for a new approach. Green’s proposal indicates she knows how to address a challenge head-on. We can address pressing state needs AND keep taxes low.