Gov. Bill Haslam speaks at an economic development announcement in Cookville, Tenn., on Monday, Aug. 25, 2014.| Lowest Gas Prices in Chattanooga |
| Chattanooga Gas Prices provided by GasBuddy.com |
NASHVILLE — Gov. Bill Haslam says he has not yet decided whether to seek new funding for Tennessee roads next year and won’t unless he has a solution “that’s more than just bridging the gap.”
The governor said in budget hearings this month that within the next two years or so, the state would have to address revenue shortfalls because of higher vehicle efficiency and years of congressional inaction on transportation funding.
Haslam, in a year-end interview with the Times Free Press, said he knows the state will have to find more road money “at some point,” but added, “We certainly have not given anyone any indication that we’re committed to doing it this year [2015].”
Earlier this week, Rep. Dan Howell, R-Cleveland, was quoted by the Cleveland Daily Banner as saying Haslam “has already signaled this is something he is going to do.”
Haslam said his top two priorities when the 109th General Assembly convenes Jan. 13 are passing his proposed Insure Tennessee program and addressing lawmakers’ concerns over Common Core education standards.