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Feb. 9, 2015.Indd 6,250 subscribers www.TML1.org Volume 66, Number 2 Feb. 9, 2015 TOGETHER FOR TENNESSEE Legislative Governor Bill Haslam’s Second-Term Inauguration Conference March 2-3 Make plans to attend the TML Legislative Conference, slated for March 2-3 at the Nash- ville Downtown DoubleTree hotel. The two-day conference provides an excellent forum to network with other municipal officials and interact with your legislators. As a city leader, you must stay up-to-date on the latest legis- lative news affecting cities. At the Legislative Conference, you’ll hear straight from key legislators and administration officials about pending state laws that could im- pact your community. The voice of Tennessee’s municipal governments must be heard in the legislative process, and the TML Legislative Con- ference is a great opportunity to communicate that message. For information regarding Photos by Carole Graves registration and hotel reserva- Gov. Bill Haslam delivers his inaugural speech after taking the oath of office at Legislative Plaza on Jan. 17. Pledging that there is more work tions, visit www.TML1.org to be done, he said he will continue to focus on improving education and implementing sound fiscal policies during his second term. See Pages 8 & 9 for photos of the inauguration. Insure Tennessee defeated in Senate committee After 21 months of intense of the deal if it ended up being more get past that hurdle," the governor Comptroller study finds negotiations and traversing across expensive than expected. told reporters at a press conference. the state, Gov. Haslam’s plan to Hospitals pledged to cover the "We made a decision today, but gas tax insufficient extend health coverage to 280,000 $74 million state share, meaning we didn't do anything to answer the legislators to consider. It does not low-income Tennesseans, died by taxpayers wouldn't have been re- problem,” a disappointed Haslam The Comptroller’s Offices of make recommendations, address a 7-4 vote in the Senate Health and sponsible for extra health insurance said. Research and Education Account- the level of funding needed, or pro- Welfare Committee during a special- costs. However, opponents of the Seven members of the Senate ability (OREA) has completed a pose how funds should be spent. ly called legislative session. proposal objected to adding to the Health and Welfare Committee, study focusing on the funding of Several transportation fund- The two-year pilot program, In- federal debt by having the state draw created specifically for the special Tennessee’s highways and bridg- ing and financing options are sure Tennessee, would have provid- down $2.8 billion in federal money session, who opposed the plan were: es. examined in the report, including ed health coverage to Tennesseans under President Barack Obama's Sens. Mike Bell, Janice Bowling, The study finds that Tennes- strengths and concerns for each who do not currently have access health care law. Rusty Crowe, Todd Gardenhire, see’s fuel taxes have stagnated and option. Possible revenue options to health insurance or have limited “Insure Tennessee is not Brian Kelsey, Frank Niceley and are not expected to be sufficient to include: options and included market-based ‘Obamacare’," Haslam assured lis- Kerry Roberts. Those who supported maintain existing infrastructure ● Motor Fuel Tax Rates elements, such as vouchers to buy teners repeatedly, but as much as he the plan were: Sens. Richard Briggs, and meet long-term transportation ● Debt Financing private insurance, co-pays and as- tried to show the difference of why it Ed Jackson, Becky Massey and Jeff demands. ● Variable Rate and Indexed Fuel surances that the state could pull out was not, “some people just couldn't Yarbro. Tennessee relies heavily on Tax Rates “There are hundreds of thou- fuel taxes to fund its highways and ● Alternative Fuel Vehicles sands of Tennesseans who need does not use debt financing, tolls, ● Vehicle Registration Fees health care, who could get that in or general fund revenues. Report confirms community ● Local Funding Options a way that doesn't cost the state Tennessee does not hold any ● Weight-Distance Tax anything,” Haslam explained. “We highway debt. Tennessee’s gaso- based supervision equals best ● Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) have health care costs that are out line tax rate (21.4 cents per gallon) Tax of control in both our state and our was last raised in 1989; its diesel outcome for incarcerated youth ● Tolls country. And we haven't done any- fuel tax rate (18.4 cents per gallon) ● Public-Private Partnerships Findings have far reaching implications thing to address those two issues.” was last raised in 1990. ● General Funds for justice systems across the country The plan was designed to The report, which was re- provide coverage for Tennesseans quested by the General Assem- Tennessee’s per capita revenue earning less than 138 percent of the bly’s Fiscal Review Committee, for highways in 2010 was the federal poverty level, valued at more outlines challenges to the existing lowest of the 50 states; however, than $16,000 a year for an individual system, and reviews alternative its roads are generally rated as and $27,000 for a family of three. funding methods. being of good quality. Tennessee "You're going to see us continue The report is intended to pro- vide objective analysis for state See INSURE TN on Page 5 GAS TAX on Page 5 Coalition to focus on transportation funding Revenue sought to improve transportation systems and boost economic competitivenes The Transportation Coalition portation officials warned late last of Tennessee was recently created year that the state is in increasing to seek stability in funding the con- danger of being able to provide struction and maintenance of our only basic maintenance on roads A groundbreaking new study by the Council of State Governments state’s vital transportation infrastruc- and bridges, leaving many projects indicates that juveniles under community-based supervision are far tures for the purpose of increasing aimed at keeping up with population less likely to reoffend than those placed in state-run facilities. mobility and safety while people and growth and addressing needed safety goods are moved throughout Tennes- tions to its ranks throughout the year. Juvenile System. improvements on the drawing board. BY VICTORIA SOUTH see. Tennessee is a pay-as-you-go Texas lawmakers responded “Business leaders, economic de- Communications Coordinator The aim of the Coalition is to state, with transportation projects with a chain of reforms between velopment professionals and elected highlight the need for action and to funded primarily by state and federal 2007 and 2013, when a number of officials see the growing shortfall as Tennessee is a national leader in build support for increased transpor- fuel tax revenues. The dollars are ap- abuses suffered by youth in state a potential hindrance to future eco- decreasing its juvenile population in tation funding -- to grow the entire portioned for state and local projects, correctional facilities were uncov- nomic development in Tennessee,” state correctional facilities—around pie. As such, the Coalition is en- which include maintenance, repair ered. The reforms provided more said Susie Alcorn, executive director 70 percent between 1997 and 2011. couraging exploration of any and all and new construction. supervision and treatment options of the Tennessee Infrastructure Al- Now, a Texas-based report by the options and has not championed any Increases in fuel efficiency com- for incarcerated juveniles—closer liance. “We hope interested parties Council of State Governments specific legislative action or remedy. bined with gasoline and diesel taxes’ to home— rather than transporting will join the Transportation Coalition (CSG) affirms that Tennessee is on TML has joined the coalition as not being increased for 25 years have young people far away to state-run to add their expertise and insights as the right track in the quest for better a steering committee member along led to a massive backlog of planned correctional facilities. to the best way to move forward to outcomes for incarcerated youth. with other governmental, business improvements, including work on The dramatic decrease in youths address this issue.” The study of Texas youth with and industry associations, including deficient bridges and roads. Tennes- incarcerated in state facilities cut The coalition will work through- nearly identical characteristics, finds representatives from the Tennessee see levies a state tax of 21.4 cents hundreds of millions in state spend- out 2015 to build support and juveniles under community-based Infrastructure Alliance, Auto Club per gallon on gasoline and 18.4 cents ing in Texas, with a large portion of awareness for the issue, says Bill supervision are far less likely to Group/AAA Tennessee, Tennessee on diesel fuel, which is combined the savings reinvested into coun- Moore, chairman of the Tennessee reoffend than those incarcerated in Public Transportation Association, with federal fuel taxes of 18.4 cents ty-administered juvenile probation Infrastructure Alliance. state-run facilities. Juveniles leav- Tennessee Trucking Association, and 24.4 cents, respectively. Vehicle departments. During the same time “A maintenance-only budget ing state-run facilities, on the other Tennessee County Highway Offi- registration fees also contribute to period, juvenile arrests also declined means no new roads and no new hand, are 21 percent more likely to cials Association, American Council the transportation fund. by 33 percent, a significant drop transportation options,” said Moore. be arrested again than those leaving of Engineering Companies of Ten- Transportation experts estimate compared to the 2-percent decline “That will hamper economic de- community-based supervision. And nessee, and Tennessee Road Builders it would take an additional $800 over the four years prior to 2007 velopment efforts. It will make our those that do recidivate, are nearly Association.
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