In response to Gov. Phil Bredesen’s State of the State speech Monday night and the release of his proposed budget, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam offered the following statement:
“The severity of Tennessee’s current budget outlook is the primary reason why there is a rainy day fund. While I support using a portion of the state’s Rainy Day Fund, our problems won’t magically go away after this year, so we must protect the fund as much as possible to get us through the difficult days ahead.
“I understand how critical the situation is, but I urge the General Assembly to not be short-sighted. Now is the time to prioritize, just as the Governor appears to have done with education. I hope in the days and months ahead the state legislature and the Governor will work together to set priorities, protect the most vital functions of government, and promote the long-term interests of the state through conservative use of our limited Rainy Day Fund.
“As Knoxville’s chief executive I’ve dealt with tough budgets and made difficult decisions over the last six years. I believe that Tennessee is at a critical junction in its history, and come next year it’s going to be important to have someone in charge who has been in charge before.”
