News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office said Van Buren County is in a stronger financial position than it was at this time last year.
Director of Communications John Dunn said the county’s final budget has not been submitted or reviewed yet. However, Dunn said with more cash in the bank and a better understanding of budget composition that the county is moving in the right direction.
“That they’re doing things the right way, that they’re passing reasonable budgets and as they move through the fiscal year that they’re not over spending,” Dunn said. “Once we see that there is a commitment to that at the county level and that their cash position is stronger. We will I believe, start to reduce some of that oversight.”
Dunn said that a positive sign is the comptroller’s office reduced its role in forming the budget after county officials completed necessary training. Dunn said that S&P has removed it’s credit watch on the county but has kept its negative outlook credit rating.
“Thanks to the budget they passed last year, they had a better understanding of how to put together a budget,” Dunn said. “And how to develop realistic revenue expectations, expenditure expectations.”
Dunn said that Van Buren County had to make tough decisions during last year’s budget to reach this point. He said that once the budget is received in the comptroller’s office it will take a few weeks to review and potentially give approval.
