Tennessee sales tax collections continue to be a concern for the state’s general fund. Negative growth in sales tax collections continued in January, with overall January revenues coming in at $947.4 million, which is $16.1 million less than the state budgeted.“January is the 20th consecutive month in which sales taxes have recorded negative growth.” Finance and Administration Commissioner Dave Goetz said. “January collections represent December holiday sales, which brought reports of positive growth at the national level, so it’s very disappointing that we didn’t have a similar experience in Tennessee.
It seems to me that people buy things when they have money to buy things. Most people need a job to get money. So is closing bars early going to get us more jobs? I don’t think so. What about banning Girls Gone Wild commercials? Not so much. Is there a single bill before the state legislature that would create a single job? If so, someone please show it to me so I don’t start thinking that our state legislators are callous idiotic buffoons that only know how to pose for the wedge issue.