MEMPHIS - Today, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam announced his plans for leading Tennessee through the state’s budget crisis. As state budget hearings continue this week, Haslam discussed the important role fiscal management plays within state government. Haslam’s plans are being shared across the state via video and through his website at www.BillHaslam.com.
This final video of the three-part series outlining Mayor Haslam’s plan for making Tennessee the #1 state in the Southeast for growing and retaining high-quality jobs focuses on his priorities to make our government leaner and more efficient by managing the state conservatively, fundamentally rethinking the role of state government by calling for a top to bottom review, while steering away from high taxes in order to encourage economic growth.
On Monday, Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen stated that Tennessee could face a $1.5 billion budget shortfall next year.
“The fiscal crisis actually presents us with an opportunity to make our government leaner and more efficient,” Haslam said. “As Governor, I’ll use my years of experience, in both the private and the public sector, to make certain that Tennessee emerges from the tough times with a smarter government that makes the most of our assets, provides conservative stewardship of every tax dollar, and focuses on high-priority functions.”
As both a private citizen and Mayor of Knoxville, Mayor Haslam has been a leader in creating jobs and championing economic development. While working in his family business, he helped create more than 11,000 jobs. During his tenure as Mayor, Knoxville was a city repeatedly named “one of the top ten metropolitan areas for business and expansion,” and ranked in the top 10 in Forbes Magazine “Best Places for Business and Careers” in America. | 
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