Federal Funding may not come through for some items that were built into the state budget that was signed on Friday.
Governor Phil Bredesen said there likely will not be a decision on federal money for medical programs, known as FMAP, until after elections in the fall.
Tennessee already has a plan of how to spend most of the money, but Bredesen says it’s not necessary.
“We don’t have to have it. As you know, we put the spending in there just because the legislature would not be about to allow me to you know have four or five hundred million dollars to spend as I saw fit. But there’s nothing about this budget that’s going to come apart if it’s not there.”
If the money does come in, it will go toward TennCare and free up nearly $350-million to be used elsewhere. The budget lists ten projects that are contingent on Tennessee getting FMAP money.
Most of the projects cover assistance for K through 12 schools, higher education, and community colleges. Some deal with stimulating the state’s economy through small business grants and job development. Money for a Civil Rights museum in Memphis and a state fish hatchery also made its way into the contingencies.
Bredesen says Tennessee is better off than most states, because the budget is not dependant on FMAP money or a second stimulus.
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