Republican candidates to be Tennessee’s next governor continue to attack Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, who leads both Republicans and Democrats in fundraising. Seven candidates appeared at forums in Nashville Thursday.
Sitting elbow-to-elbow with Haslam, Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons said the mayor of Knoxville is a great guy but has a track record of raising taxes when things get tight. Gibbons referenced a 2004 property tax hike.
GIBBONS: “The fact is people are paying 15% more in property taxes today because he decided that was the way to balance the budget.”
HASLAM: “I really appreciate the extra attention here. I’ll repeat – our property taxes are the lowest they’ve been in 50 years.”
The rate Knoxville property owners pay is less, but that’s only because real estate values have increased since 2004. State law requires tax rates to decrease as property values rise.
For his part, Haslam says he inherited a budget shortfall from the previous mayor and had to raise taxes to close the gap. He says a tax hike to balance the state budget isn’t an option, and instead will require shrinking the size of the government.
Bill Gibbons and Congressman Zach Wamp, both running for the Republican nomination to be governor, also criticized Mayor Haslam for not disclosing how much money he makes from Pilot Travel Centers – his family business. Another candidate, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, didn’t join the attacks against Haslam.
Candidates Want Decentralized Higher Ed
While Governor Phil Bredesen has talked about merging the boards that oversee higher education in Tennessee, some candidates running to replace him want to go the other direction.
Instead of streamlining oversight, Senate Democratic Leader and gubernatorial candidate Jim Kyle wants more independence, especially for community colleges.
“I would remove the community colleges from the Board of Regents system, therefore there will be more accountability.”
By having the community colleges stand alone, outside of the 45-institution system, Kyle says they could be forced to graduate more students.
Gibbons says he’d like to see the University of Memphis strike out on its own as well.
“And I’m open to the other four-year universities overseen by the Board of Regents having their own government board.”
The TBR operates six universities across the state. The University of Tennessee system oversees campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Martin and Memphis.
Gibbons Open to Increasing State Gas Tax
Gibbons says he’s open to increasing the state’s gas tax to fund road construction.
None of the candidates supports an increase to the sales tax or imposing a state income tax, but Republican Bill Gibbons says the 21-cent gas tax is different.
“If I feel that we have certain infrastructure needs – roads, bridges – in order for growth, and we need to make some changes in how we calculate that tax in order have that fund, I’m open to that idea.”
Also running, Congressman Wamp says the gas tax itself is flawed and won’t sustain road construction in the future.
“Regardless of how much the Haslam’s charge you per gallon – $2.75 or $4.99 – it’s the same per gallon regardless of the price.”
Haslam is part-owner of Pilot Travel Centers. He says fuel efficient cars are starving the highway trust fund, but before raising taxes Haslam suggests looking for efficiencies in the Transportation Department.
Democrats in the gubernatorial race say now isn’t the time to increase the gas tax.
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