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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
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Bill Lee offers victim-serving agencies $20M in revised budget
Victim-serving agencies in Tennessee have been making public pleas for Gov. Bill Lee to include funding for them in the state budget. (Photo by) Gov. Bill Lee will include $20 million in the state's budget for victim-serving agencies that — for weeks — have issued public pleas for help to keep their doors open in the face of steep cuts to federal grants. Sexual assault centers, domestic violence shelters and child abuse counseling agencies — many serving key roles in working with law enforcement to bring perpetrators to justice — have seen their share of federal Victims of Crime Act funding dwindled from a peak of $68 million in 2018 to $16 million last year. In response to these cuts, 35 other states took action to provide state funding. Tennessee was not one of them, until now. 'Some of the victim services units are struggling to provide the services that are needed, particularly for our law enforcement and for the victims of crime in our state,' Jim Bryson, commissioner of the Department of Finance and Administration, said Tuesday in presenting the supplemental budget proposal to lawmakers. The governor's funding — $10 million in grants for each of the next two years — fell short of the request for $25 million in recurring state funding a coalition of state nonprofits say they need to preserve current services. Memphis domestic violence center abruptly closes amid statewide fight for victim funding Advocates, disappointed when the governor's budget initially included no state funding for crime victims, nevertheless called it an important first step but are still seeking a long-term dedicated crime victim funding. 'This funding is an important acknowledgment of the urgent crisis facing Tennessee's victim service providers,' said Stephen Woerner, executive director of Tennessee Children's Advocacy Centers, which provides counseling and other services to children who have suffered abuse. Woerner stressed the need for sufficient and sustained funding long-term. The Victims of Crime Act, or VOCA funding, relies on the fees and fines collected from individuals prosecuted in federal courts. It has seen a drastic drop in collections as prosecutors made a concerted shift to accept more plea deals — a trend that preceded the current Trump Administration. A short-term infusion of COVID-era funding helped bridge the gap, but those funds have now ended. Collectively, Tennessee organizations receiving VOCA grants serve more than 95,000 victims in Tennessee each year, according to the state's Office of Criminal Justice Programs. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tennessee budget plan offers no tax breaks
Among the big ticket items in Gov. Bill Lee' proposed budget is a $1 billion increase in road spending. () A year after giving businesses a $1.5 billion tax break, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee's budget plan for the next fiscal year includes no such tax cuts — and none for grocery shoppers as lawmakers push two proposals to lower costs at the checkout counter. Instead, the $59.4 billion spending proposal reflects a $1 billion increase in road spending, $148.6 million for the governor's private-school voucher plan and $244,000 more for K-12 schools. The plan marks a $1.1 billion dip compared with this year's budget as federal funding decreases. More than one-third of the budget revenue comes from the federal government, $20.1 billion, and $3.6 billion will be taken from state budget balances the last two years. Tennessee lawmakers agree to a second billion-dollar tax break for businesses in as many years Funding for K-12 public schools is slated to jump to $6.9 billion next year, including $198 million for teacher pay increases. A total of $450 million is to go toward the governor's private-school voucher plan, which could take up to 20,000 students, after lawmakers approved one-time bonuses for teachers and funds for vouchers. Another $17 million will go toward high-performing school districts, along with $7 million for a tourism destination district in Sevier County, part of a package designed to entice votes in a recent special session called to take up the voucher plan. The governor's budget plan eliminates 324 unfilled state positions and uses 1% savings from each department. The state needs $30 billion worth of road work and is proposing $1 billion in funding for construction projects after putting $3 billion toward roads in 2023-24. Some $80 million from the state sales tax on tires is to go into the transportation fund from the general fund to pay for part of the road investment, an 'unusual move,' according to Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson. Bryson said no business tax breaks or sales tax cuts are included in this budget after the state gave businesses $1.1 billion in rebates on the franchise and excise tax, and $400,000 in future cuts. A reduction in the grocery tax will depend on the legislature, he said. Tennessee legislature puts hundreds of millions toward private-school vouchers Democrats and Republicans are proposing different versions of grocery tax cuts for next fiscal year. Democratic Rep. Aftyn Behn and Democratic Sen. Charlane Oliver, both of Nashville, are sponsoring one measure that would be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes. Republican Rep. Elaine Davis of Knoxville and Sen. Bo Watson of Hixson are backing a separate grocery tax break, but it contains no method for replacing lost revenue. The governor plans to add $35 million to the state's rainy day fund, pushing it to a total of $2.18 billion. Lee came under criticism for declining to use the fund to help eight counties rebound from Hurricane Helene damage last fall. Instead, he used $100 million from the TennCare budget to offer loans to the damaged counties. Another $420 million is to be spent on flood-ravaged areas, including a $100 million fund that is under the governor's discretion. No higher education construction projects are proposed for Tennessee State University as the governor proposes $650 million for capital spending at universities statewide. Extra funding for the financially strapped university could be contained in a budget amendment, according to Bryson. The governor is set to spend $25 million on farmland conservation that would enable the state to buy temporary easements on farmland to stave off development. A bill to deal with that plan failed to pass last year. The spending plan also calls for adding 100 state troopers and 22 agents in the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. In addition, Lee's budget proposal includes $24.5 million for Duck River planning and $100 million to bring water from other sources to residents who live south of the river.
