State law requires every county, municipality, and utility district in Tennessee to adopt an annual budget. To be effective, a budget should be adopted prior to the beginning of the fiscal year. The budget should also be based on reliable estimates, structurally balanced, provide for cash liquidity, allow for adequate reserves, monitored throughout the year, and amended as necessary. See our Seven Keys to a Fiscally Well-Managed Government.
Local officials that adopt budgets meeting the following specific criteria are awarded an annual certificate from the Comptroller of the Treasury:
- The budget was adopted on or before the fiscal year end;
- The budget was filed with our office within 15 days of adoption;
- No issues of concern were raised during our review of the budget; and
- The local government is not currently under the oversight of the Tennessee Board of Utility Regulation.
Carthage, Cordell Hull Utility, Smith Utility, Middle Tn Natural Gas were listed among the recipients for the 2024 Certificate. The full list is on the comptroller website.
