The Governor’s Proposed Projects

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee proposed an injection of more than $1 billion into road projects to help address the state’s $30 billion projects backlog,.

The Governor’s budget proposal includes nearly $1 billion in one-time, general state tax money and a plan to shift $80 million annually from the sales tax on tires. It comes two years after Lee and lawmakers approved a similar $3 billion shift of general tax money to roads funding, which is traditionally covered by gas taxes.

The money for roads is one of the big-ticket items in Lee’s $59.5 billion budget proposal for the year that begins in July.

Lee also proposed directing $11 million to the Boys and Girls Club to help boost their childcare programs, as well as expand eligibility to a state program that supplements childcare worker salaries.

In addition, the Governor proposed a $60 million fund that would create 0% construction loans to build single-family homes. And while the governor’s budget does not contain any new tax breaks for Tennesseans, Lee said he plans on funding a tax credit enacted last year that would give incentives to developers building affordable housing.