By Justin Owen In the latest Beacon Poll, we did a deep dive into Tennesseans’ views on artificial intelligence, a hot topic of debate all over the world. As the debate rages, we wanted to hear directly from Tennesseans themselves about how they view AI. AI Usage A solid majority (58%) of Tennesseans use AI…
In a half-hearted effort to address decades of mismanagement and poor student performance, the state’s largest school district, Memphis-Shelby County Schools, released a six-page accountability plan earlier this year. But that’s nothing compared to the Comptroller, who recently released over 660 pages of a scathing audit detailing the district’s financial missteps. It doesn’t take a…
Despite the outcry and petitions, the Johnson City Commission approved a 20 percent property tax increase to help fund a new aquatic center, taking nearly $10 million additional dollars a year from residents and businesses. While it’s bad enough that the $37 million sticker price will rise to $55 million with interest, what’s worse is…
Nashville residents are hurting. Regular families and local business owners, from small mom and pop shops to major Broadway establishments, have been crushed by recent property tax increases. While Mayor Freddie O’Connell claimed the property tax increase was needed to fund essential services like schools and public safety, it seems those extra funds are going…
By Taylor Barkley When ice storm Fern knocked out power for more than half the state, energy stopped being an abstraction. It is hard to philosophize about the grid when the house is cold and dark. So it is no surprise that the latest Beacon Poll found Tennesseans unusually united on one subject: the power…
By Jason Edmonds Policy discussions generally focus on ideology or the hot topic of the day, but energy is such a constant in our lives it often rises above debate. Energy is ever-present when monthly bills arrive, when we fill up our vehicles, and even when we turn on the lights. That is, until we…
The Johnson City Commission recently proposed raising its property tax rate by 28-cents, soaking taxpayers with a 20 percent increase. The proposal is not driven by the typical claims of underfunded basic city services like roads, police, and fire departments, but instead by the frivolous need to fund a new aquatic center. With a price…
Tennessee taxpayers are about to spend millions on a Starbucks order they didn’t ask for. In April, the world’s largest coffee chain announced it would be opening a Southeast corporate office in Music City. The state has done well in attracting businesses, both large and small, through a low-tax, business-friendly environment. Yet those bigger businesses…
By Justin Owen Tennesseans have strong opinions about education in our state. That’s no surprise, as the quality of a child’s education directly impacts their future, economic prospects, and opportunities. For three years, we have tracked the public’s sentiment of K-12 education in the Beacon Poll. We have also delved deeper into education issues in…
Are you aware that Tennessee’s 30 largest cities spend more than $1.4 million a year to hire private lobbyists to advocate for bigger government at the state Capitol in Nashville? That doesn’t even include the state’s remaining cities, 95 counties, 147 school districts, and nearly 200 public utility districts, many of which also hire their own lobbyists. Many…
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