
On November 17, the Smith County Board of Education filed a lawsuit and temporary restraining order against the Smith County Board of Commissioners, Smith County Mayor Jeff Mason, and Smith County, TN. The lawsuit follows the recent adoption of the Financial Management Act 1981 by the County Commission on October 9, 2023.
The Smith County Director of Schools, Barry Smith, and several members of the Board of Education attended the October 9, 2023 meeting of the Smith County Commission to voice concerns about adopting the Financial Management Act 1981. Click here to view the full meeting.
According to the lawsuit, the Board of Education alleges that the county violated the Open Meetings Act by not giving proper public notice of meetings and that certain members of the county commission met and/or deliberated privately regarding the county finance structure and the adoption of the Financial Management Act of 1981.
The restraining order filed by the Board of Education against the County and Commissioners temporarily prevents the county from proceeding with the establishment of the County Department of Finance and taking further action in implementing the vote taken on 10/9/23 in relation to the Financial Management Act of 1981.
See below a copy of the full lawsuit and the restraining order: