Tracy is pleased with restoration of gas funds

State Sen. Jim Tracy told Rotary Club of Shelbyville members on Thursday that the new state budget restores gas tax funding to the state highway program, noting the importance of highways to economic development.

Over the past several years, when Tennessee and many other states were in an economic pinch, some of the gas tax revenues which had always been dedicated to road programs were diverted and used for other state expenses. The new 2007-2008 state budget which takes effect next month restores the gas tax funding to highways and adds $10 million in additional funds to recoup some of what had been lost over the past several years.

The budget also puts an additional $5 million into public transportation, said Tracy.

Tracy voted against a proposal which allowed the development of a toll road and a toll bridge as pilot projects. The measure will not allow existing roads to be converted to toll roads, only new projects -- and for now, only the two pilot projects.

"I still didn't vote for it," added Tracy.

The budget reduces the sales tax on food by one half percent. Tracy admitted that the increase was a slight one, but said it was the first actual decrease in the rate he can recall. Tracy also noted that he voted against the 42-cent increase in the cigarette tax.

The new budget includes more flexibility for revamping schools which fail to meet state accountability standards, said Tracy, and improves the Basic Education Program funding program so that it is easier to understand and targets more money to schools which need it, such as schools with high at-risk populations or high levels of English language learning (ELL) students.

The state will soon pay a higher percentage of employee health insurance for teachers and is working to raise the average teacher salary to $38,000 this year and $40,000 within three years.

Tracy urged Rotarians to stay informed about matters of public interest.

"It's very important that you stay involved with all these issues," he said.

Tracy, a Republican, represents Bedford, Moore and part of Rutherford County in the Senate. He lives in Shelbyville and operates Nationwide Insurance agencies in Shelbyville and Murfreesboro.