New Executive Order for Tennessee as revenue numbers show shortfalls from COVID-19
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee will sign Executive Order 36 on Tuesday, extending many of the efforts to keep Tennesseans safe and lift regulations during the fight against COVID-19. PHOTO: FOX 17 News
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--Tennessee Governor Bill Lee will sign Executive Order 36 on Tuesday, extending many of the efforts to keep Tennesseans safe and lift regulations during the fight against COVID-19.
Governor Lee said the order extends many of the safeguards issued in his Safer-At-Home Order. The order will extend deadlines for motor vehicle registration, hand gun permits and more while also continuing to lift regulations on healthcare workers and price gouging amid the pandemic.
The order will come on a day when Tennessee saw a 3.6% increase in the day-over-day totals of positive cases in the state. However, Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey says nearly half of those tests were from the inmate population. Dr. Piercey said when subtracting the inmate testing, spread in the community was 1.9%.
Governor Lee praised the efforts of Tennesseans for "doing what they have to do" in order to get to the point of reopening in combination with the effort to expand testing throughout the state. The governor added as this new normal continues, adaptations may need to be made but he will make decisions based on data such as the number of available hospital beds, ventilators used, ICU bed availability, of positivity rates.
BUDGET SHORTFALLS
The briefing had a more somber turn when it came to revenue shortfalls. With a portion of April's numbers released on Tuesday, Governor Lee said it provides a look at the future. "It's going to be very difficult, we know that," Lee said. "We have a very difficult financial period ahead of us."
According to totals released by the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration, the state received $1.3 billion, a negative growth rate of 39.75% compared to April 2019. It is also $693.8 million less that what the state had budgeted.
Overall, the state is $88.1 million under budget estimates for the current Fiscal Year which started in August 2019. The totals are a reflection of the expected hit due to COVID-19. Revenues from sales taxes, gasoline taxes, excise taxes, and business taxes are all under budget due to the effects on the economy during the pandemic.
Gov. Lee said the administration plans to have a clearer picture of the longevity and impact of revenue shortfalls as the monthly reporting continues to come in.
One source of help could come now that the state has received the first portion of money from the CARES Act funding. Gov. Lee said the funding comes with guidance from the federal government though the state's bi-partisan Financial Stimulus Accountability Group is working to also create guidance on how the funds will be used. Gov. Lee said he hopes to earmark portions of the funding for the unemployment benefit trust fund, business owner relief, and budgetary needs.
