Tennessee’s 26-billion dollar budget received approval from the Senate today, after they concurred with the house version passed late yesterday.
Governor Phil Bredesen’s budget coupled with 416-million dollars worth of appropriations emphasizes education, health care, and pay raises for state employees.
Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle says the 34-million in operating funds for higher education means students at state colleges and universities have something to thank the General Assembly for.
“Their tuition increase is only gonna be about 4% next year, and when was the last time that ever occurred?”
Some Senators took issue with the house version after several pet projects were eleiminated, including Nashville Senator Thelma Harper’s several thousand dollar appropriation for construction on the Jefferson Street Bridge. She passed on the budget.
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