The State Comptroller’s Office released the audit of Blount County Government for the fiscal year ended June 20, 2017.
Mayor Mitchell said “The Comptroller’s Office has advised us there were no audit findings for Blount County Government, being one of a handful of counties in the State that have achieved this status. The County received a clean audit opinion on the presentation of financial statements of Blount County government. I am pleased that this information is now available for the public to review. http://comptroller.tn.gov/ I am particularly proud of our fiscal performance for FY 17. We ended the year with an operating surplus in the County’s General Fund. A lot of hard work goes into this process by our elected officials and by my staff and is evidence of the good stewardship and improved financial practices in all of Blount County Government. I want to thank all of them for their hard work. Our citizens deserve financial information that they can rely upon and have a right to know how their tax dollars are being spent. This audit gives assurance that is being accomplished. I appreciate Mark Treece from the Comptroller’s Office coming personally to our Audit Committee meeting tonight to share the details of this news.
This was the first year of operating under new standards of financial policies and procedures for all departments and offices of the County Government. I am proud that we are committed to transparent government here in Blount County. I am especially proud that all of our financial information is available to the public on our website (http://www.blounttn.org/958/Audits) and that we have monthly Budget Committee meetings that give insight and updates on financial matters of County government.”
Stated by Commissioner Mike Caylor in the February Budget Committee meeting, “I think it’s important that people, who are not as familiar with our local government as others are, have a clear understanding that the staff of this County are to be commended.”
Susanne Davis, Chair of the Blount County Audit Committee says “It is very refreshing in light of all the issues our country and community are facing, to have such excellent news that our local County Government once again has received an audit report with no findings. The effort our county officials put forth to make sure this happens should be applauded. Thank you for a job well done. Please continue to operate at this same high level of integrity.”