Tennessee’s budget increased cumulatively more than pop+inf in state funds and all funds from 2014-23, meaning taxes are higher than the average taxpayer can afford.

  • The 2023 state funds budget is $8.7 billion higher than it would have been had spending grown at the rate of population growth plus inflation over the past decade.
  • Because the state funds budget grew faster than population growth plus inflation for the last ten years, the state spent and taxed $15.2 billion too much.
  • The 2023 all funds budget is $15.3 billion higher than it would have been had spending grown at the rate of population growth plus inflation over the past decade.
  • Because the all funds budget grew faster than population growth plus inflation over the past decade, the state spent and taxed $28.9 billion too much.