Report shows $580M in state government waste

Report shows $580M in state government waste

By ANN KEIL
6 News Reporter

NASHVILLE (WATE) -- A citizen watchdog group said Wednesday it has found $580 million in state tax dollars that are lost to waste, fraud and abuse.

The Tennessee Center for Policy Research and Citizens Against Government Waste issued the charges of wasteful spending in its 2009 Tennessee Pork Report.

State funding of arts programs is a major target of this year's pork report. Its figures show that the state spent more than $7 million on the arts in 2008.

Some of that money was spent on controversial projects like a film festival in Nashville that featured sexually explicit movies.  

Locally, $6,700 in tax money went to support Caryville's "Louie Bluie Music Festival," and $5,600 is helping to support the Appalachian Ballet Company's production of the Nutcracker in Maryville.

Also on the pork report is a switchgrass biofuel refinery in Vonore.

State legislators have approved $5.3 million in funding this year. The pork report criticizes that decision, calling the plant a "muddy lot" that would at best produce "inefficient fuels" that "create more pollution."

Golf courses are another item on the list. According to the report, the state lost $2.3 million on 11 courses owned by the state last year.

The report also found that a golf-course owned by the city of Sevierville lost nearly $200,000. 

Finally, the pork report says state lawmakers are wasting time and money on resolutions, honoring citizens for their wedding anniversaries or for being named 'tree farmer of the year.'

Also showing up on the pork report for the second year in a row are renovations at the governor's mansion.

Almost $13 million in state funds are being spent, including more than $9 million on an underground banquet hall critics have dubbed the party bunker.