By Richard Locker
locker@commercialappeal.com
NASHVILLE — When Gov. Phil Bredesen’s budget chief presented his final state budget plan to lawmakers Tuesday, it included a surprise $51 million appropriation request listed simply as “economic development projects.”
When a senator asked state Finance Commissioner Dave Goetz for more details, he answered. “Can I come talk to you privately about that?”
Thus Tennesseans watching on the Legislature’s website or in the hearing room were left in the dark about a possible appropriation big enough, for example, to offset prior budget cuts and a possible 10 percent tuition hike for students at all the state’s community colleges for one year.