The Beacon Center of Tennessee released a new statewide poll Thursday examining voter attitudes on a wide range of issues, including property taxes, capitalism and socialism, federal tariffs, taxpayer-funded sports stadiums, license plate readers, the death penalty, and whether Nashville’s airport should be renamed in honor of country music icon Dolly Parton.
According to the latest Beacon Poll, 88 percent of Tennessee voters support limiting how much property taxes can increase each year, requiring voter approval for increases that exceed the limit. Additionally, 64 percent said they would be more likely to vote for a state legislator who supported a statewide cap on local property tax increases.
The poll, conducted from October 24-November 3, comes as Tennessee voters passed Amendment 2 with 67 percent support in last week’s general election, approving a constitutional amendment that prevents the state government from creating a property tax.
That amendment does not restrict local governments from levying property taxes.
Beacon Center CEO Justin Owen said the poll results on property taxes reflect concerns about rising costs and give state lawmakers an opportunity to address expenses within their control.
“Tennesseans are feeling rising costs everywhere they turn,” Owen said. “State lawmakers can’t do much about federal tariffs, but they can rein in costs within their control, starting with a cap on local property tax increases.”
Owen added that support for property tax limits exceeds even support for a proposal to rename Nashville International Airport after country music icon Dolly Parton.
The poll found 78 percent support renaming Nashville International Airport in honor of the late Dolly Parton, following a September vote by the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority to begin changing the airport’s name in her honor.
The poll also gauged Tennesseans’ views of Parton by asking respondents to name their favorite song by the country music legend. “I Will Always Love You” led with 27 percent, followed by “Jolene” at 22 percent and “9 to 5” at 17 percent.
On economic issues, 65 percent of voters said they prefer capitalism over socialism, compared to 22 percent who prefer socialism. Among Tennessee Democrats, capitalism holds only an 11-point advantage over socialism.
Voters were more divided on tariffs, with 47 percent supporting the U.S. imposing them and 46 percent opposed. However, 47 percent said tariffs have negatively affected them through higher prices for everyday goods. More voters also viewed tariffs as taxes that increase consumer prices (35 percent) than as a “useful tool to protect American industries and jobs (26 percent).”
The poll also found that 55 percent oppose using taxpayer-funded incentives to help build professional sports stadiums, while 38 percent support the practice.
The issue comes as Nashville’s $2.1 billion Titans stadium, backed by $500 million in state bonds, remains under construction ahead of its anticipated 2027 opening, and discussions surrounding a potential Major League Baseball team could bring additional requests for public funding.
On license plate reader cameras, a majority of Tennesseans oppose the general use of the technology in their communities by 15 points.
However, support increases substantially when voters are asked about specific applications. Seventy-nine percent support using the cameras to locate stolen vehicles or missing people, while 78 percent support using them to investigate violent crimes after they occur.
Voters overwhelmingly oppose using the technology for general patrol or monitoring without a specific investigation underway.
The poll also measured attitudes toward capital punishment following the unsuccessful execution attempt of convicted murderer Christa Pike.
Seventy percent of voters support the death penalty for first-degree murder, while 22 percent oppose it. Eighty-three percent said they were aware Pike’s execution attempt did not result in her death, but half said the incident did not change their views on capital punishment.
Rounding out the poll’s findings, outgoing Governor Bill Lee received a 55 percent job approval rating, while 39 percent said they disapproved of his performance.
The full poll is available on the Beacon Center of Tennessee’s website.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “People Voting” by Lorie Shaull. CC BY 4.0.
