GOVERNMENTAL PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY PLAN

PROBLEM STATEMENTS

Governments face a highly complex operating environment marked by major demographic, environmental, and digital shifts, alongside low trust and constrained fiscal space. 

Responding effectively means concentrating efforts on three fronts: Enhancing individuals’ sense of dignity in their interactions with government, restoring a sense of security amid rapid societal and economic changes, and improving government efficiency and effectiveness to help boost productivity in the economy, while restoring public finances. These priorities converge in the governance of the green transition.

Efficient, honest government that delivers results and measures them publicly.

We will run the State of Tennessee with discipline, transparency, and shared purpose. Every department will have clear goals, measurable results, and public accountability. We will work collaboratively with elected officials and municipal leaders to streamline processes, align budgets with outcomes, meet consistently, and advance at least one coordinated legislative agenda as ONE TENNESSEE so the government works together, spends wisely, and delivers results people can see and feel.

Commitment:

A government that serves the people must be transparent, disciplined, and aligned. Every dollar, decision, and department will be accountable for outcomes that improve lives across the State of Tennessee.

Priorities:

• Bold Innovative Business Boom - This Governorship Will be the Gateway to Prosperity for All

• “ONE TENNESSEE” Legislative Agenda and Lobbying Team

• Accountability, Transparency, and Public Engagement

• Phasing Out the Penny

• Transition Leadership and Continuity

1. Bold Business Boom

Help small businesses grow, recruit new industries, and ensure economic development benefits the people who live in the State of Tennessee. We will remove barriers, reduce bureaucracy, expand access to capital, and tie incentives to outcomes Tennesseans can navigate through:

• No-One-Left-Behind Small Business Accelerator Academy
  Training, permitting and zoning guidance, procurement navigation led by experienced business owners

• Streamlined Permitting + Zoning Reform
  Fast-tracked approvals, shorter wait times, single entry for new business owners

• Expand Awareness of Neighborhood & Farm Opportunity Zones
  Distressed ZIP codes designated as priority locations for tax incentives and county-funded microgrants.

• Fair Wage and Youth Hiring Requirement
  A percentage of state infrastructure contracts dedicated to apprenticeships and youth jobs; Contractors must pay a living wage aligned with inflation.

2. ONE TENNESSEE Legislative Agenda and Lobbying Team

The Governor’s role is to convene, connect, and champion. Municipalities know their communities and pain points, but we can go farther, faster when we go together. This is not one-size-fits-all. The state sets the table, cities bring their needs, and together we design solutions that meet the needs of the people we serve. My priority will be Tennesseans.

Governor's People's Agenda

Perform twice a year, during the Governor's People's Agenda, we will:

• Discuss state-specific priorities to inform the budget

• Develop a joint legislative agenda and lobbying team

• Lobby Washington, D.C. as one region with many voices and nuanced needs, thus placing Tennesseans in the center of all the agendas.

3. Accountability, Transparency, & Public Engagement

Residents deserve to see how dollars are used, where progress is made, and where more work is needed. This plan includes:

• Quarterly “State of the Governor” Address to share wins, challenges, budget impact, and what’s next.

• Public dashboard with budgetary spending, crime, health, housing, and education indicators visible to residents.

• Community-design tables where residents co-develop policies, pilots, state, and neighborhood investments

• Participatory budgeting in select communities, allowing parents and youth to help decide how funds are spent with the collaboration of Mayors.

• Maintain business practices and state initiatives that align with Local Government Rating criteria to sustain an excellent rating

Engagement strategies will prioritize women, parents, disabled, caregivers, small businesses, and non-profits through accessible meeting times, childcare-aware formats, and clear, plain-language communication.

4. A Penny for Your Thoughts

The federal government is allegedly phasing out the penny. While this change is national, how it’s handled locally and statewide matters especially for seniors, working families, and people who rely on cash. Our administration will handle this transition with transparency, fairness, and respect for every dollar families earn.

How the State Will Meet the Moment

• Clear Public Education
  Launch a simple, plain-language education campaign so residents understand what is changing, when it is changing, and what it means for everyday purchases before implementation begins.

• Penny Exchange Program
  Partner with trusted city, county, and state locations to allow residents to exchange accumulated pennies for higher denominations, ensuring no one loses value.

• Financial Access & Literacy
  Work with all governmental entities and community partners to expand access to basic banking, credit education, and safe financial tools, especially for unbanked and underbanked residents.

5. Transition Leadership & Continuity

Strong leadership includes how you hand your most precious cargo, Tennesseans. I will lead a disciplined, transparent transition that protects services, respects workers, and keeps the State of Tennessee moving forward from day one.

What we will do

• Establish a Transition Leadership Office immediately after the election to protect critical services and ensure continuity.

• Professionally onboard new leaders with required training in ethics, budgeting, operations, and community impact.

• Publish a public transition playbook with a clear 60-day plan so residents, employees, and partners know what to expect.