The Tennessee Department of Correction spent about $907 million on incarceration in FY 2023, and our counties spent an estimated $554 million in FY 2022 to operate local jails.
Continue readingThe Budget in Brief: Summary of Gov. Lee’s FY 2025 Recommended Budget
Compared to current law, Gov. Lee’s budget reflects lower-than-expected tax collections and proposes new spending and tax cuts for FYs 2024-2025 — mostly funded by previously unallocated recurring revenues and a large FY 2023 surplus.
Continue readingVideo: Sycamore Presents Before the Joint Working Group on Federal Education Funding
Sycamore presents on topics like dependency on federal dollars, the role of the federal government in education, and requirements that influence how K-12 schools operate before the Joint Working Group on Federal Education Funding.
Continue readingFederal Funding for K-12 Education in Tennessee
This report reviews the federal government’s role in K-12 education, key federal programs and requirements, recent tensions between Tennessee and federal requirements, and some trade-offs and considerations involved.
Continue readingFederal Funding for Tennessee’s School Districts
In FY 2019, Tennessee distributed $1.1 billion in federal funds to school districts across the state — or about 11% of total district revenues that year. This report includes an interactive dashboard to explore and compare federal funding for each school district.
Continue readingSummary of Gov. Lee’s FY 2024 Amended Budget
The FY 2024 budget amendment adds $501 million — or 1.7% — in net new spending from state revenues.
Continue readingWhat’s in Gov. Lee’s 2023 Transportation Modernization Act
Gov. Bill Lee released his $55.6 billion recommendation for the state’s FY 2024 Budget — along with recommended changes for FY 2023.
Continue readingThe Budget in Brief: Summary of Gov. Lee’s FY 2024 Recommended Budget
The FY 2024 recommended budget includes unprecedented spending levels fueled by multiple years of significantly better-than-expected state revenue collections.
Continue readingVideo: Sycamore Presents Before the Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee
Sycamore presents on topics like inflation, gas taxes, and the rainy day fund before the Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee.
Continue readingHow Inflation Affects Tennessee’s State & Local Governments
Inflation raises operating costs at every level of government, but Tennessee’s reliance on sales tax means state revenues may keep up with inflation better than those of local governments.
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