An Ol’ Broad’s Ramblings
Bredesen’s Bunker
Bredesen’s Monument to Government Waste Unveiled Today
Governor Phil Bredesen and First Lady Andrea Conte will officially dedicate “Conservation Hall” this afternoon, marking an end to a facelift to the Tennessee Governor’s Mansion that turned into a disastrous boondoggle for taxpayers.
Repairs to the Governor’s Mansion began in 2005 with the worthy goal of making the residence more accessible for Tennesseans with disabilities. Unfortunately for taxpayers, Bredesen and Conte expanded the project to include a complete renovation of the home, featuring a $321,393 kitchen overhaul, $14,436 dimmer switches, nearly $11,000 for an upstairs wet bar and the addition of an entertainment venue – which became Conservation Hall. In total, the renovations cost an estimated $25 million, with tax dollars funding the bulk of the expense.
This is the ‘residence’ that could have been sold for a tidy profit and an actual historic home bought, perhaps saving a few bucks for the taxpayers of Tennessee. Over $300K on the kitchen alone? That’s more than our house with a few acres of land cost us. Of course, it’s no mansion.
Johnson noted that the Governor’s Mansion was appraised in 2005 at a value of only $900,100 and the home holds no particular architectural or historical importance, serving as the governor’s residence for less than 60 years.
So, what was the purpose of this whole outrageous expenditure?
Unfortunately, despite budget shortfalls resulting in the layoffs of hundreds of state employees and a reduction of government services to Tennesseans, renovation of the mansion and construction of the Conservation Hall continued.
Well, I guess it’s a whole lot more important to waste millions of dollars on a structure worth less than a million than it is to preserve jobs, right?
“As the Governor dedicates Conservation Hall this evening, I hope he takes a moment to dedicate it to struggling single mothers whose tax dollars went to subsidize the lavish renovations, the former state employees whose jobs could’ve been saved if not for the cost of the bunker and the millions of taxpayers who will never be invited inside the mansion to see what they helped to fund,” Johnson said.
As far as Democrat governors go, he isn’t anywhere near as bad as some. Then again, this sort of thoughtless spending of taxpayer money is typically Democrat.
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