Latest news with #FinanceandAdministration
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Finance department: Five Arkansas DMVs will be open Saturday to meet demand for REAL IDs
Secretary of Finance and Administration Jim Hudson responds to interview questions about Arkansas' implementation of REAL IDs ahead of the federal May 7 deadline at the department's Ragland Building in Little Rock on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate) State driver's license offices in five Arkansas cities will be open Saturday to accommodate demand for REAL IDs, which will be required for all Americans to board flights or enter certain federal buildings starting May 7, the department announced Tuesday. REAL IDs are signified by a gold star on a driver's license or state-issued ID cards. The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration has issued roughly 140,000 REAL IDs since Jan. 1, including 52,000 in March, bringing the statewide total to roughly 800,000, Secretary Jim Hudson said in a news conference. All 134 DMVs statewide can issue REAL IDs in person, Hudson said. The five offices open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday will be in Little Rock, Fayetteville, Jonesboro, Texarkana and Monticello, according to a news release. 'We will only be issuing REAL IDs in those offices this Saturday so we can focus on serving those customers who have the greatest need for it, particularly if you plan to travel in the coming future,' Hudson said. '…I don't want anybody going to the airport and getting turned away and having their travel plans frustrated because you don't have a REAL ID.' Appointments for Saturday are recommended but not required, and people can schedule appointments on the finance department website. REAL IDs began with a law passed by Congress in 2005 as a response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Instituting REAL IDs statewide 'will help fight terrorism and reduce identity fraud,' according to the finance department website. Applicants for REAL IDs need to pay a $40 fee and provide the finance department with four different forms of identification: A current driver's license, state-issued ID, or school or work ID as proof of identity A passport or birth certificate as proof of legal presence in the United States A government-issued social security card Two documents providing proof of address, such as utility bills or bank statements, issued within the last six months The documents 'all have to sync up,' making the process more secure than the one to apply for a regular driver's license because it's difficult to falsify all four documents, Hudson said. Individuals who have legally changed their names will need to provide proof of doing so, such as a marriage license or divorce decree, according to the finance department. Arkansans should remember that obtaining a social security card 'may take a little bit of time' since the federal government must deliver it to the requester via snail mail, state revenue commissioner Charlie Collins said at the news conference. Arkansas drivers can get digital licenses, but don't get rid of your printed one yet The federal Transportation Security Administration accepts passports in place of REAL IDs as identification to board a flight, but federal buildings under the jurisdiction of other agencies, such as courthouses and nuclear power facilities, might have different ID requirements for entry, Hudson said. The finance department has been focused 'on making the REAL ID process as smooth, convenient and accessible to Arkansans as it can possibly be made,' including by providing REAL IDs the day they are requested instead of mailing them to applicants weeks later, Collins said. He added that about 20,000 Arkansans have opted into the finance department's new option for a digital driver's license, which also functions as a REAL ID if someone has provided the proper documentation. Additionally, Arkansans can choose whether to renew their driver's licenses for an additional fee while obtaining a REAL ID if the license has not yet expired, Hudson said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Tennessee Democrats request details on scope of Trump, DOGE funding cuts to state
Tennessee Democrats want more information from state officials about how hard the state has been hit by ongoing Trump administration budget cuts. Legislative Democrats requested details from Tennessee Commissioner of Finance and Administration Jim Bryson regarding ongoing cuts, arguing lawmakers need details on the loss of federal funds as they move quickly toward a vote on next year's state budget. "As legislators, we have a responsibility to understand the scope of these disruptions and to ensure Tennessee families do not bear the burden of federal instability," lawmakers said in the letter. Across departments — from food access to public health to healthcare — federal dollars support vital programs that keep our communities running. However, Tennesseans are now facing real consequences from program delays and cancellations." The Tennessean reported on April 14 that state officials have been reluctant to detail the scope of federal budget cuts in Tennessee as Gov. Bill Lee has sought to align himself with President Donald Trump's agenda, including the efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency to slash federal spending. More: As DOGE cuts federal funds, Tennessee departments balk at releasing details of lost money That federal spending very often flows into state budgets, though. In their April 14 letter, Democrats noted more than $24 billion in federal funds comprised more than 41% of the current state budget. The letter also noted federal dollars fund a majority of the budgets for the state's departments of Human Services, Military, TennCare, Transportation and Health. DOGE cuts last month slashed more than at least 13 state contracts totaling more than $224 million. At least some funds in the identified grants have likely already been spent. The Tennessee Department of Health, through which the majority of the U.S. Health and Human Services grants to the state were funneled, has refused to answer repeated inquiries about how much money the state stands to lose and what public health programs the funds support. Previous DOGE cuts canceled local farm programs that helped Tennessee schools and food banks purchase fresh, local food. Meanwhile, proposed cuts to National Institutes of Health-funded medical research prompted Tennessee leaders at research hospitals and universities to urge lawmakers to take action against the plan that would "drastically reduce" funding for vital health care research. In the letter to Bryson, Democrats noted ongoing cuts across the state, including the cancellation of food bank assistance, certain public health prevention programs, potential TennCare impacts and energy assistance cuts. Democrats requested the dollar amounts of reductions for eash state agency, in addition to how many state employee positions that are supported by the federal funds. "Understanding the depth and scope of these changes is imperative, not only for budgetary accuracy but also for anticipating impacts on essential services and public trust," the letter said. "Early clarity will also aid in exploring mitigation strategies, whether through state-level reallocations or alternative funding avenues. Our goal is to understand how the state prepares for continued instability in federal funding and to ensure that Tennessee families are protected from the fallout." A Department of Finance and Administration spokesperson did not respond to a Tennessean request for comment. Tennessee state departments have offered similar comments to a variety of DOGE-related requests in recent weeks, stating any loss of federal funds will not affect Tennessee's ability to serve its citizens. When asked if Lee's office had directed state officials on how to refer to the cuts, or if departments should decline to provide details about which programs will be impacted, Lee's office said the governor is a "willing partner" with the Trump administration. "President Trump was clear about his platform when he ran for office, and Americans overwhelmingly elected him to cut waste and enhance government efficiency, particularly as it relates to pandemic-era programming," Lee spokesperson Elizabeth Johnson said. "Tennessee stands ready to be a willing partner, as the President's goals align with Gov. Lee's commitment to efficiency at the state level." This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Democrats request details on scope of DOGE cuts to state
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee files a $343M budget update. Here's what's in the plan.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee rolled out a $343 million amendment to his $58.4 billion state budget proposal on Tuesday that includes nearly $39 million in K-12 funding diverted from public school districts, millions in grants for faith-based nonprofits, and $10 million in funding to use artificial intelligence for some state services. Commissioner of Finance and Administration Jim Bryson proposed the governor's budget amendment to lawmakers, framing the new additions as a 'plain vanilla' request. Spending outlined in the new amendment brings Lee's total state budget pitch to just under $59.76 billion – about a 1.3% decrease from last year's budget. Bryson said Tuesday the main reason for the reduction is the decrease in federal funding. Here's what is included in Lee's amendment: Lee's budget amendment includes a $3 million allocation toward a limited summer food services program offered by the Department of Human Services – announced after The Tennessean reported that the state had declined $75M for a full program. 'I can't get my head wrapped around why we turned down the federal money and we're going to be serving less children,' Sen. Paul Rose, R-Covington, said. Bryson could not answer questions from members of the Senate Finance Committee on why the state turned down the federal funds on Tuesday. He said the department would meet with members separately to go over the details. 'I'm not prepared to talk through all of those policy issues with you,' Bryson said. 'The purpose of this is to make sure that everybody that needs to be served gets served. That is what we want to do. There is no intent to cut out individual groups or places.' Sen. Page Walley, R-Savannah, said he is concerned about students' access to healthy foods during the summer in his rural district. 'The administration turned down $70 million in federal funding for the summer food program, but this budget allocates $3 million of state money to do less food service,' said Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville. 'I'm trying to understand the rationale of that.' Overall, state funding for K-12 education will likely increase. Lee has proposed $244 million in new funding this year for Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement, the state's education funding formula known as TISA. That includes $80 million in funding rolled from last year, and $164 million in new TISA spending ― including scheduled pay raises for public school teachers. But Lee's budget amendment does reflect nearly $40 million in total reductions to the state share of funding for K-12 public schools based on enrollment and cuts to three school districts as a hold harmless provision in the state's first school choice program has now run out. The Education Freedom Scholarships approved this year applies to both students who are in public school and want to attend a private school and those already enrolled in a private institution. The state's first school choice program, Education Savings Accounts, only applied toward students wanting to transition out of the public school system in Davidson, Shelby and Hamilton counties. When passing the legislation in 2019, lawmakers included a three-year 'hold harmless' provision to reimburse districts for lost state contributions for pupils that quit public school to attend a private institution. That hold harmless period has now expired, resulting in $23.7 million in funding that will not go to schools those three counties 'Those are dollars that would otherwise be sent to districts to hold them harmless,' Yarbro said on Tuesday. State funding for public schools through the TISA formula is reduced by $15.9 million, based on updated enrollment reports from school districts. 'In the spring, we get an updated number from the Department of Education, and this makes the difference,' Bryson said, adding that the K-12 education budget has 'significantly increased' this year. Lee is also proposing $20 million in new spending for school safety grants, and $20 million for charter school facilities. The governor's budget amendment includes more than $16 million in grants for faith-based nonprofits and entities, to be administered through various state agencies. Included in the proposed grants is $350,000 for a Christian youth camp in Kentucky, and $1 million for the Human Coalition, a national nonprofit anti-abortion activist group that has published a 'Complete Guide to Defunding Planned Parenthood.' Lee's proposed grants to faith-based entities include: $5 million for Men of Valor through the Department of Correction. Lee sat on the Men of Valor board prior to his election. $500,000 for Cul2Vate, a spiritual agriculture ministry in Davidson County $1 million for the Human Coalition, the anti-abortion activist group involved with the Southern Baptist Convention. The money is through the Department of Human Services $3.5 million to Agape Family Services through the Department of Children's Services $350,000 to Barefoot Republic, a Christian camp and retreat center located in Scottsville, Kentucky, through DCS $1.5 million for Coalition for Kids through DCS $500,000 to Viable, Inc. through DCS $1 million to Hopeworks through the Department of Correction $250,000 to Lipscomb University LIFE Program through TDOC $500,000 to TN Prison Outreach Ministry through TDOC $750,000 to Hope House of Tennessee through DHS $1 million grant to the Church of God in Christ through the Department of Health $250,000 to Neighborhood Christian Centers, Inc. through DHS Lee is requesting $10 million for artificial intelligence implementation at the Department of Finance and Administration, but few details are available about how exactly AI would be used. The state's AI Advisory Council established last year, of which Bryson is a co-chair, has met several times. A first report from the council is expected in May. Bryson said the funding would 'help us transition some of our services and capabilities to AI.' The Department of Finance and Administration did not immediately respond to an emailed inquiry on what services would be transitioned to artificial intelligence. With revenues flat, and slow growth projected, the Lee administration this year is recommending slightly less than $1 billion in general obligation bonds to cover the budget. State officials have typically shied firmly away from taking on new debt. If approved by the legislature, debt service payments would remain at 1.76%, a slight increase from the current 1.36%, and well under the rate of 2.4% when Lee took office. State finance officials recommend keeping debt service payments at 6% or lower. 'We've been very good with debt,' Bryson told lawmakers Tuesday. 'We feel that now it's time that we can look at adding some additional debt because we have significant debt capacity, and we can move forward without putting the state at significant risk.' Notably absent from the amendment is any grocery tax holiday or other tax cuts for families, as Lee has backed in previous years. This comes as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have had ongoing discussions about a grocery tax cut this year. History and tourism $15 million waterfront grant for the city of Chattanooga $3.2 million grant to United Way of Anderson County to fund a monument to honor the actions of the Scarboro 85 during the Civil Rights Movement $1 million grant for Zoo and Aquarium Consortium $5 million grant for Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame $3 million for Center of Memphis Music/Rock N Soul Museum $6.2 million grant for the Andrew Jackson Foundation $3 million for the Tennessee Battlefield Preservation Fund $1 million for Miracle on the Mountain ability-inclusive playground in Grundy County Health and social services $28 million for provider stability funds to nursing homes ($53 million federal match) $10 million for mental health infrastructure facility grants at children's hospitals Infrastructure and capital projects $25 million in infrastructure funds for the state's 72 general aviation airports $10 million for McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport $4 million for Murfreesboro Airport $4 million for Rockwood Airport Terminal $1.04 million for projects at the East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery $41.3 million to move and rebuild Memphis Airport TCAT $25 million to renovate Murphy Center at Middle Tennessee State University Criminal justice $17 million to establish a new statewide indigent representation program $20 million in one-time funding for victim services through the Victims of Crimes Act Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@ Want to share your thoughts with the legislators that represent you?Find your state Senator and Representative and their contact information on the Tennessee General Assembly website here. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee files $343M budget update. Here's what's in it
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Governor's supplemental budget depends on $700 million in federal stimulus money investments
Sen. Bo Watson, a North Chattanooga Republican, told lawmakers there won't be any investment income left next year to tap. (Photo: John Partipilo) Tennessee is using the last of its investment income from federal COVID stimulus money to balance its budget this year, leading some lawmakers to issue warnings about the governor's spending strategy. Gov. Bill Lee's supplemental budget plan for next year depends on $200 million the state set aside to spend during the COVID-19 pandemic but never did. Those funds accompany an additional $500 million that's already part of the governor's $59.6 billion budget proposal, which lawmakers must approve before adjourning this spring. This budget maneuver has allowed Lee for several years to spend hundreds of millions of dollars more than would normally be available. Investment earnings usually come in around $5 million. But the federal stimulus funds are nearly depleted. 'We tried to make the point … don't get too comfortable with this money because it's way above what we would customarily get,' said Republican Sen. Bo Watson of North Chattanooga, chairman of the finance committee. The governor's extra spending is shrinking year after year, as Lee's $345 million supplemental budget plan for fiscal 2025-26 marks a sharp reduction from a year ago when it hit $656 million. Tennessee budget officials predicted that the state's budget would not grow this year, and according to the Finance and Administration commissioner, state revenue is on track to come in as projected. Officials estimated 2% growth for next year. The state budget took a hit last year when the legislature approved a franchise and excise tax cut and refund for businesses that's expected to cost some $1.4 billion up front and an additional $400 million per year. 'I think the state's got long-term problems down the road because we cut revenue sources and we're not dealing with outstanding big-ticket needs like road funding and education funding,' Democratic Sen. Jeff Yarbro of Nashville said Tuesday after hearing the governor's budget update. During Lee's tenure, Tennessee's budget has soared from a combination of the state's growing economy, access to online sales tax revenue and federal pandemic funds. Next year, the governor wants to take the unusual step of borrowing heavily to build roads before costs increase, according to Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson. In addition to Treasury investment earnings, the supplemental budget moves $23.6 million of the money set aside for Lee's private-school voucher program to provide money to a variety of nonprofit groups and favored projects. Nearly $14.5 million in the budget plan released Tuesday is earmarked to offset school district losses related to the private-school voucher program, and $20 million goes toward charter school facilities. Another $5.5 million will be used to pay for the Department of Safety and Homeland Security's immigration enforcement bureau, which was enacted during this year's special session to complement federal crackdowns on immigrants without permanent legal status. More than $20.6 million from TennCare's shared savings account with the federal government will be used to reimburse hospitals for treatment of indigent patients. Another $28 million from shared savings is set to go to nursing homes that provide care for needy people. The state has accumulated nearly $1 billion in that TennCare account designed to serve low-income residents. The governor's plan continues to provide money to the Men of Valor, a prison ministry that Lee participated in, and a host of nonprofit groups the governor favors. For instance, $1 million is targeted for the Church of Christ of God in Memphis, but Bryson couldn't explain why the church is to receive the money. Yarbro said lawmakers need a 'clearer statement' on the benefit of funding the litany of organizations statewide. 'There are more nonprofits that are being supported by this governor just because of what seem to be relationships,' Yarbro said. Watson called it 'a lot of nickel and dime stuff' and said the administration will explain it 'on the back end.' In addition, Lee is backing $10 million for the state's artificial intelligence initiative and $3 million for an audit of Memphis-Shelby County Schools. Some of the AI money will go toward the state's initial investments in artificial intelligence to improve services, Watson said, but he added that some of the funds will go toward technology. Another $12 million targets an Economic and Community Development FastTrack Project in Sumner County, which involves a water line from Portland to Westmoreland. The city of Chattanooga would receive $15 million for a waterfront project. The Andrew Jackson Foundation would land a $6.2 million grant, and $5 million would go toward the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. Youth Villages Memphis Allies would receive $10 million. The state's court system indigent representation program would receive $17 million. Lee's plan deposits $25 million into a response and recovery fund, and $10 million would go toward relocating the Unicoi County Hospital that was severely damaged by Hurricane Helene last fall. The governor's plan puts $3 million toward a summer food program for children, even though the state opted against renewing federal funds to feed kids. Yarbro called that idea 'bad budgeting and bad morality.'
