I understand this:

* Tennessee ranks consistently in the bottom 10 states academically.

* Less than one third of TN residents have even a two year degree.

* Tennessee ranks 46th in the nation for education spending.

* TN has the highest violent crime rate.

* TN health rankings come in at No. 42 among the 50 states.

* TN has some of the highest taxes in the country for families living in poverty.

* Ranks #2 for number of meth lab busts.

* Ranks among top ten most obese states.

* 38% of TN roads are in poor to mediocre condition.

* TN jobless benefits rank among the lowest in the nation.

TN Ranks Among the Highest in:
* Unemployment - 43rd
* Poverty Rate - 40th
* Infant Mortality Rate - 47th
* Obesity Rate - 44th
* Income Inequality - 42nd
* Violent Crime Rate - 50th

TN Ranks Among the Lowest in:
* Wealth Per Capita - 40th
* % of High School Graduates - 42nd
* Life Expectancy - 44th
* Reported Well-Being - 47th
* Math Scores - 42nd
* Reading Scores - 35th
* % Employed in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics jobs - 38th

http://blogs.knoxnews.com/humphrey/2011/11/tn-drops-in-education-report-c.html
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/07/20...n-t-one-of-them
http://educationnext.org/despite-common-core-states-still-lack-common-standards/
http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/2013/12/tennessees-health-rankings-low.html
http://itep.org/itep_reports/2013/09/ten...hp#.Uzzap16WT8t
http://www.wbir.com/story/news/crime/2013/12/03/tn-meth-numbers-improving/3862639/
http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/tennessee/tennessee-overview/
http://www.wate.com/story/24909277/tennessee-ranks-amount-top-ten-most-obese-states-again
http://www.tennessean.com/article/201305...g-lowest-nation
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/02/23/most-miserable-states/5729305/
http://clarksvillenow.com/local/well-being-poll-ranks-tennessee-near-the-bottom/
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2...ml#.Uzzb8V6WT8t


There would seem to be several advantages to NY's method of funding infrastructure and services.