For the first time in decades all 95 Tennessee counties have adopted their annual budget resolutions by Aug. 31.
This achievement means that Tennessee counties are now operating under a locally-adopted budget for the current fiscal year.
Tennessee counties are also in full compliance with Public Chapter 170, Acts of 2015. This new law allows counties that do not adopt a budget resolution prior to June 30 to operate under a continuation budget through Aug. 31.
Counties with extraordinary circumstances preventing the adoption of a budget resolution by Aug. 31 may request approval from the Comptroller of the Treasury to operate until Sept. 30. The Tennessee County Services Association requested Public Chapter 170 from the state legislature, and its members should be commended for adhering to its requirements.
In the past, it was not uncommon for some Tennessee counties to operate without a current budget into October.
“This achievement is a result of the tremendous effort by county executives, mayors, commissioners, and school board members to better manage their counties by adopting a budget in a timely manner,” said Comptroller Justin P. Wilson. “This is a significant step toward making government work better for all Tennesseans.”