Gov. Phil Bredesen, in Chattanooga to push for passage of his "BEP 2.0" proposal, on Monday morning told local educators and officials, "I think we've got a solution for you."
Speaking at the Waterhouse Pavilion at Miller Plaza, Gov. Bredesen said he looked into complaints from Hamilton County and others on the alleged lack of fairness of the complicated state formula for distributing education funds.
He said he found that the BEP "has some real underlying problems. It was getting long in the tooth."
Gov. Bredesen said plans are in place for about a $500 million fix of the BEP. He said about $280 million to $290 million would be for this year.
He said, "It's time to do this stuff. It's time to move ahead."
Gov. Bredesen said his proposal includes passing a 40-cent increase on the cigarette tax as well as using some funds from a budget surplus.
He said it would put more money grams for at-risk students, expand funds for high-growth areas and boost teacher pay.
The governor was on the podium with County Mayor Claude Ramsey and members of the local legislative delegation.
Rep. Gerald McCormick said the proposal "would be of huge benefit to Hamilton County. It has taken years to get there, but it was done in a bi-partisan manner."
He said, "I am confident we can get the votes," though he said legislators "will have some tough decisions to make."
Mr. Ramsey said, "We are at a very special point where change can take place."
He said, "I can't tell you how pleased I was when I was in the governor's office and he told me, 'You guys are getting messed on. We are going to change that BEP formula. I don't know how or when.'"
Mr. Ramsey said, "Now is the how and when."
The funding mechanism for the Bredesen Schools First Initiative is on the calendar for the Finance, Ways & Means Committee on Tuesday.
SB2326 increases the state's cigarette tax by 40 cents per pack, generating over $200 million in new revenue for education, officials said.