Why Gov. Lee may not be able to expand private school scholarships: Nashville in Focus

Описание: A new Vanderbilt University Poll suggest more than two-thirds of Tennesseans, 67%, worry they won't have enough money to pay the bills. This as grocery prices remain high and experts are warning workers to brace for higher health insurance premiums in 2026.

Twenty four percent of respondents to the Vanderbilt poll say our state lawmakers should concentrate on the economy when they reconvene in January. 70% of those polled worry about their retirement savings.

What can the legislature do to help? Perhaps less than you'd imagine, at least in the short run. That's because Tennessee Comptroller Jason Mumpower predicts revenue growth in the next fiscal year to be between 2.25% and 2.35% It's better than no growth to be sure. When you consider, however, inflation is running at 3% annually, lawmakers will struggle to pass a budget that funds current priorities.

"If it's 2.25-percent growth and inflation is 3%, we now have a math problem. They say show me your budget, I'll show you your priorities. So we're gonna have to see in a transparent fashion what Bill Lee is willing to cut," said Tucker Karnes, a political strategist and former Tennessee Senate adviser.

Governor Bill Lee and House Speaker Cameron Sexton both want to expand Education Freedom Scholarships, often referred to as private school vouchers. This year, 20,000 Tennessee families were given $7,295 each to help pay private school tuition. Sexton wants to double that number to 40,000 in 2026. That would cover nearly all of the 42,000 families that applied for tuition vouchers this year.

The state is accepting applications for those scholarships now. The state spend nearly 450 million on private school tuition vouchers this year. Will lawmakers be able to find money to expand the program in a tight budget year? That remains to be seen.

Former Tennessee House Republican Caucus Chair Debra Maggart says she's spoken with lawmakers who say they may not be able to give the governor what he wants next year even if they want to.

"I think what they want to do is maybe look at the program and see how it's working possibly before they start putting more money into it. That's what I'm hearing when I talk to members," Maggart said.

The state Legislature is scheduled to reconvene at noon January 13, 2026.

These are among the topics discussed this week on 'Nashville in Focus.' Other guests include Republican political strategist Rick Williams and Democratic strategist Jasper Hendricks.

fox17.com/features/nashville-in-focus/why-gov-lee-may-not-be-able-to-expand-private-school-scholarships


_______________
Follow! Like! Share! Subscribe!

WZTV on Facebook:   / foxnashville  
WZTV on X:   / foxnashville  

https://fox17.com

Email us: [email protected]
Call the Newsroom: 615.369.1717

Fox 17 provides local news, weather, sports, traffic and entertainment for Nashville and nearby towns and communities in Middle Tennessee, including Forest Hills, Brentwood, Franklin, Fairview, Dickson, Clarksville, White House, Greenbrier, Springfield, Gallatin, Hartsville, Lebanon, Mt Juliet, Smyrna, College Grove, Thompson’s Station, Centerville, Murfreesboro, Columbia, Lewisburg, Shelbyville, Manchester, McMinnville, Smithville, Sparta, Cookeville, Hohenwald, Waverly, Camden, Paris, Lafayette, Portland, and in Kentucky, Russelville, Bowling Green, Franklin, Alvaton, Scottsville, Hopkinsville, Glasgow.

#WZTV #fox17news #foxnashville #nashville #tennessee #tn #middletn #localnews #breakingnews #trending