Phil Bredesen	- Download MP3-

Resolutions passed by local governments in Southeast Tennessee urge lawmakers to use millions of dollars in excess lottery money for school construction projects.

But Gov. Phil Bredesen said Monday there is not enough money.

“My concern is that $150 million doesn’t go a long way when you spread it around school by school by school,” Gov. Bredesen said in a telephone interview. “It doesn’t really build any schools for anybody.”

He said he supports using the money for college scholarships and prekindergarten programs.

Bradley County and the city of Cleveland recently passed resolutions asking the Legislature to use excess money for school capital projects, officials said. The Rhea County Commission is scheduled to vote on a similar resolution tonight.

Sen. Jamie Woodson, R-Knoxville and chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee, said excess lottery funds — money left over after scholarships are awarded — total more than $400 million.

She said legislators have talked about using between $100 million and $200 million for school construction. House and Senate bills that would set up a matching grant program from lottery funds for school construction are in subcommittee, records show.

Sen. Woodson said she supports using part of the money to build schools.

“The question is, is it relief for our local systems?” Sen. Woodson asked. “Our local systems say absolutely.”

Recently, voters in Rhea County and the city of Athens, Tenn., failed to pass referendums asking for sales tax increases to fund school construction.

Rhea County Executive Billy Ray Patton said state assistance would help because counties could pay a one-time match instead of shelling out money over several years on a low-interest loan. Even with lottery money, it would be hard to avoid raising taxes because construction costs are so high, he said.

Even a 10 percent match may mean millions of dollars in county funds, Mr. Patton said.

“That would still be a substantial amount of money,” he said.

Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland said his city just paid $14 million to build an elementary school.

“Now we’re faced with renovating the science wing at Cleveland High School. That’s estimated to be a $5 million project,” he said. “That money certainly could help with that.”

Rep. Mike Bell, R-Riceville, said he surveyed 206 constituents and found 92 percent support using excess lottery money to build schools.

“You hear the argument it’s not going to be enough money, it’s not going to help,” he said. “But they’ve (local governments) run into problems, and they need money for schools.”

IF YOU GO

The Rhea County Commission will vote at 7 p.m. today on a resolution urging the Tennessee General Assembly to approve using excess lottery funds for school construction projects.