Funny, in my experience, TN has done the most for their airports. The 4.5% aviation fuel tax that goes directly back to airports in TN (including GA) is not even close to "almost nothing". For years that equated to $40 million going back to airports ($20 million specifically for GA airports). It is less these days with the recent "FedEx Bill" (from your lovely hometown employer), but there is still significant money being invested in TN airports. In fact, we'll probably be seeing another new airport constructed in the next few years. When you look at surrounding states (with the exception of FL), TN is doing the most for their airports. Last year there was a $15 million ECD grant that was spread around to 5 or 6 airports, and this year there is a $20 million ECD grant in the governor's budget that will be up for grabs. In the past, the Use Tax collected on aircraft did not go back to airports, but TAA is working with TDOT Aeronautics to explore changing this. Sorry you feel the way you do, but all you have to do is look up the numbers and you'll see just how much TN does for all of their airports vs. surrounding states.
So, the 4.5% fuel tax is above and beyond the sales/use tax. I've seen very little TN involvement in western TN airports. Tennessee doesn't foot the bill, they simply distribute Federal money through the TN aviation commission. Saying TN spends the money is like saying everyone who pays taxes is supporting charity via the welfare program. Tennessee loves collecting taxes on everything sold/transferred (including trying to soak me when I inherited a project plan when my dad passed, they failed) with little return. Monies spent on airplane transfer taxes hardly go back to aviation. They go the general fund. Fuel tax, it should be going towards aviation, but I wouldn't be surprised to see some being siphoned off. I'm sure our RINO Governor would love doing that.
The following is from TN Aeronautics Commision page.
State level aviation expenditures in Tennessee are largely afforded by the state’s Transportation Equity Fund(TEF). Aviation’s share of this fund is generated by a sales and use tax on the consumption, distribution, and storage of all aviation fuel sold in
Tennessee.
While Tennessee is not unique in relying on a fuel-based tax to generate revenues
for aviation, the magnitude of those revenues is made unique by the presence of FedEx
which operates a “SuperHub” at Memphis International. Relying heavily on Memphis, FedEx Corporation ranks as the largest freight-carrying airline in the world and is the
world’s fourth largest airline measured by fleet size, operating 647 aircraft in 2015.
FedEx fueling activities at Memphis and its consequent TEF payments are sizable. Approximately 66 percent of the $48 million in revenue collected from the aviation fuel
tax and distributedthrough the TEF’s during Fiscal Year 2014 (roughly $32 million) was
attributable to FedEx fuel purchases at Memphis.
With this noted, future FedEx related TEF revenues will not be as large as in the past.
Last year, faced with the prospect that FedEx might relocate its aircraft fueling
operations and, with it, some portion of its Memphis-based labor force, the Tennessee
legislature voted to cap the amount of aviation fuel taxes to be remitted by any one
contributor.
Importantly, however, even with the enacted cap in place, Tennessee’s TEF still provides the ability to provide airport capital funding at levels that exceed the
nation’s average.