NASHVILLE, TN - While Tennessee state officials have not yet tallied the cost of rebuilding after the Super Tuesday tornadoes, and the state’s latest revenue numbers are a mixture of grim and grimmer, one thing became crystal clear Thursday morning: The $8 million in taxpayer money being spent because of the construction a luxury underground ballroom at the governor’s mansion won’t be diverted to more pressing needs.

Blasting got underway at the mansion in Nashville’s exclusive Oak Hill neighborhood Thursday morning and is expected to continue for several days.

“During these times of fiscal austerity, the funding of a non-essential multi-million dollar project like the ballroom should be at least delayed, especially given the unknown costs of tornado relief and recovering and the state’s rising revenue shortfall,” said Bill Hobbs, communications director for the Tennessee Republican Party. “We urge Gov. Bredesen to heed to advice of the bipartisan House resolution calling for the construction of Conservation Hall to be postponed at least until the economic storm is over.”

House Resolution 0245, filed Jan. 31, is co-sponsored by state Rep. Beth Halteman Harwell, R-Nashville, and state Rep. Rob Briley, D-Nashville.

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Bill Hobbs
Communications Director
Tennessee Republican Party
2424 21st Avenue, Suite 200
Nashville, Tennessee 37212
Phone: (615) 269-4260
Email: billhobbs@tngop.org