According to a survey by Nashville-based libertarian think tank, The Beacon Center, the greatest instance of government waste — or “pork” — in 2024 came from the Memphis Area Transit Authority. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Topping a list of wasteful Tennessee government spending projects in 2024 was the Memphis Area Transit Authority’s (MATA) move to spend millions on a suite for a local NBA franchise, new offices and furniture, according to an annual survey by a Nashville-based think tank.
The Beacon Center’s annual “Pork Report” surveyed 1,200 Tennesseans on topics including wasteful spending, approval for Gov. Bill Lee’s rebooted push for universal private school vouchers and creation for a federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President-elect Donald Trump.
WREG-TV in Memphis first reported MATA’s board approved more than $1.1 million for new office space in 2021, $600,000 in furnishings for the office and more than $500,000 for a suite at Memphis Grizzlies basketball games — while operating with a $60 million deficit.
“Tennessee voters agree that the way MATA ran an enormous deficit while spending money on luxury expenses that only benefited their board members was both distasteful and unethical, ignoring their duty to regard taxpayers’ interests,” said Mark Cunningham, Beacon spokesman. “In order to recoup this irresponsible spending, the city must consider cutting bus and trolley lines, punishing the people who rely on public transportation the most.”
The MATA expenditures narrowly edged out the $2.3 billion being spent on a new stadium for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, which ranked second in the survey. The team and the NFL are paying for $840 million of the costs; the remainder will be generated by state and Nashville municipal taxes.
Survey respondents ranked as third Lebanon City Council’s allotment of $1.5 million in tax incentives for a new restaurant.
In other poll findings, 67% of respondents either strongly or somewhat support Lee’s school voucher plan, which would allow parents of K-12 students to access $7,075 per pupil in public funds to be used for private school tuition. Of Republicans surveyed, 37% said they strongly support the program while 33% of Democrats expressed strong support.
When asked about support for creation of a new federal department of efficiency, 79% of Republicans expressed support while only 27% of Democrats did.
The survey was conducted December 16-27 by Nashville-based Targoz Market Research. Of the 1,200 people surveyed, 540 identified as Republican, 288 as Democrats and 372 as independent voters.
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