The Beacon Center, a conservative-leaning Tennessee think tank, has released more details of a recent poll that was shared in part last week. The poll results released Monday focus on Tennesseans views on the recent implementation of the Education Freedom school voucher plan and whether the limitation to 20,000 students should be increased; views on the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding Tennessee’s ban on certain medical treatments like puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender minors; support for increased property taxes as an increasing source of revenue for local governments; and Tennesseans feelings toward President Trump’s tariff plans. Finally, the poll surveyed views on local governments using tax dollars to hire paid lobbyists.
According to the Beacon Center poll, 56% of voters believe the cap on Education Freedom Scholarships should be lifted from the current 20,000 to reach ALL eligible families, while 30% of Tennesseans disagree and think the cap should remain in place. In other states that have expanded their own voucher programs to make them “universally available,” the results have been economically catastrophic with little, if any, academic achievement gains.
For example, in Arizona, the cost of the universal voucher program has grown dramatically, far exceeding initial estimates. The program’s price tag in the last fiscal year jumped from an estimated $65 million to approximately $332 million. Another $429 million in costs is anticipated for the current year. Can Tennessee afford the same results and are Tennessee voters actually aware of what other states have been experiencing when they expand their own voucher programs?
The U.S. Supreme Court opinion upholding Tennessee’s ban on medical treatments like puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender minors is widely supported, with 65% approving of the decision and only 26% opposing it.
As more communities are raising property taxes to fill their coffers, taxpayers do not approve. Sixty-two percent of voters say property tax increases will hurt local communities, while only 15% say they will help. In addition, 70% of registered voters believe property taxes should be limited or outright banned. Only 21% believe property taxes are necessary to fund local government services. Interestingly, 64% of Democrats support either limiting or banning property taxes. This debate will be become an increasingly important issue in local races. Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is seeking to ban property taxes statewide. https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/tale-two-floridas-real-estate-industry-torn-over-desantis-push-eliminate-property-taxes Will this become an issue in the Tennessee Governor’s race?
While President Trump retains extremely high approval among Tennesseans, voters are split on his tariffs, with 45% seeing them as taxes that raise the cost of goods and 44% believing they are essential for protecting American-made products. Most Democrats (+59%) and Independents (+21%) consider tariffs a tax, whereas 62% of Republicans see them as a necessary tool to protect American consumers.
GOP Congressman and gubernatorial candidate John Rose is increasingly talking about the benefits of Trump‘s tariffs for Tennessee farmers. He has been pointing out that opening foreign markets to Tennessee products, such as soy beans, cotton, dairy and beef, have not been receiving enough attention in the media or among voters.
Finally, in 2024, Tennessee’s 30 largest cities spent roughly $1.4 million in taxpayer dollars on contract lobbyists. The Beacon Poll shows broad opposition to this practice, with Republicans (-65%), Democrats (-67%), and Independents (-60%) all expressing strong disapproval of local governments using public funds to hire private lobbyists.
Nashville alone is spending $219,000 annually on lobbyists, primarily partisan Democrats, to influence the supermajority Republican legislature on behalf of the city.
More details on the Beacon Center poll can be found HERE.
Steve Gill is Publisher of TriStar Daily and is a national and international political analyst and commentator.
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