Tennesseans, not state's reserve fund, need more investment, statewide Power Poll shows.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s overall job performance passes muster with 47% of Chattanooga area respondents to a statewide Power Poll survey this week, while 39% said they do not approve of how the first-term Republican governor has performed heading into his third year in office.

The Power Poll survey of influential residents, conducted Monday through Thursday, asked respondents: “What do you think of our governor’s job performance in general?” More than a third — 36% — approve of Lee’s performance, and another 11 % strongly approve. On the flip side, 30% disapprove and 9% strongly disapprove of how the governor has performed. Fifteen percent had no opinion either way.

In statewide Power Poll survey results, 60% of poll respondents disapprove or strongly disapprove of Lee’s job performance while 29% approve or strongly approve.  

Lee was elected in 2018 with 60% of the vote; he won 92 out of 95 counties.

The Power Poll surveyed 133 Chattanoogans, and 81 replied, for a response rate of 61%. Across the state, the Power Poll surveyed 2,174 people; 731 responded for a 34% response rate.

The Nashville-based Power Poll, founded by a former journalist, operates in 19 cities mostly in the Southeast. The monthly survey of elected officials and leaders from business, civic and nonprofit organizations, media and education is not a scientific poll, but results offer insights into the opinions and beliefs of key decision-makers in the area.

In his third State of the State speech on Feb. 8, Lee outlined his budget priorities for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Clearly the coronavirus pandemic dramatically affected Lee’s plans although the state had better-than-expected revenues during the tumultuous year. His proposed $41.8 billion budget does include more money for teacher pay (K-12 and higher ed) and for COVID-19 relief efforts and other investments in state infrastructure and economic development initiatives. He also recommended stashing more money into the state’s rainy day fund.

Power Poll respondents in the Chattanooga area were divided about whether more money should go into that reserve fund. Asked about socking away another $50 million in the rainy day fund, 42% said the governor is being a wise steward of taxpayer money while 56% disagreed, saying the money should be spent on critical needs. Statewide, 28% agreed with the proposal to bolster reserves; a significant 66% disagreed with Lee’s plans.

Survey respondent Jennifer Harper of Chattanooga, a principal at Bridge Financial Planning, wrote that a rainy day fund provides a foundation to financial stability, but noted there are extenuating circumstances this year.

“Adding to an already large rainy day fund when many of the people of Tennessee are struggling seems at odds with its purpose,” she said. “What are the metrics that would need to be reached to use those reserves? Do those metrics currently exist … It seems a better balance could be reached between the well-being of the state and the well-being of its people.”

Poll respondents in Chattanooga and across the state agreed that they do not support Lee-supported legislation that would allow people to carry handguns without a permit.

About that proposal: 77% of Chattanooga respondents (84% statewide) opposed such a measure while 19% said they were in favor (12% statewide).

And finally, Power Poll members weighed in on a proposal to hike the federal minimum wage, currenlty $7.25 an hour, to $15. Supporters of the $15 hourly wage argue that this increase will lift many people out of poverty and is long overdue, having last been increased in 2009. Opponents argue many employers’ labor costs will become untenable, possible forcing layoffs or decisions not to grow business.

The largest share of Chattanooga area and statewide respondents — 42% and 45%, respectively — favor moving to a $15 hourly wage over several years. Another 30% (21% statewide) favor an increase less that $15 an hour over several years. Interestingly, 16% (12% statewide) favor leaving the minimum wage right where it is, and just 11% (21% statewide) favor raising the minimum immedately to $15 an hour.

Chattanooga attorney Kurt Faires wrote that some “states are already at $15 where supply and demand requires it. Tennessee is not such a state. On balance, the job losses which would result from $15 per hour outweigh the benefits.”

Email Chris Vass at cvass@timesfreepress.com or chattanooga@powerpoll.com.