**PRESS RELEASE **

Re:      Blount County Government Annual Financial Report

            Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2019

BLOUNT COUNTY, TN

Blount County Mayor Ed Mitchell announces the release of Blount County’s Annual Financial Report from the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office for the year ending June 30, 2019, with no audit findings for the fifth year in a row.  The full report can be viewed at https://comptroller.tn.gov/content/dam/cot/la/advanced-search/2019/county/FY19BlountAFR.pdf.

“Each of our Elected Officials and their respective departments work every day to do the right thing in how we do business for our citizens.  Five consecutive years with no findings is an incredible accomplishment.  This is truly a total team effort, and I am so proud to be a part of this team consisting of our Commission, our Elected Officials, School Department and the outstanding employees that work every day to serve our citizens.

We thought four years was an incredible, unprecedented achievement.  To have five years in a row is truly remarkable.  This report is clear confirmation for our citizens that they can rely on the procedures we have in place, and that we will continue to be diligent in how our tax dollars are spent.  We want our citizens to have confidence in Blount County’s financial health. 

We’ve had different auditors from the State of Tennessee Comptroller’s Office assigned to Blount County for the last two audits, ensuring that our records and procedures have had fresh eyes. 

I am extremely proud of the continued work from our Finance Director, Randy Vineyard, and his accounting team.  Without their diligence and dedication, we certainly could not accomplish this 5th year audit review with no findings.  It also could not be accomplished without the leadership of our Commission and all of our Elected Officials.  We all share a love and commitment to Blount County and its citizens.  It is our daily mission to work together for the betterment of Blount County, and that starts with our daily financial practices.  Everything we do is with our citizens in mind.”

Chairman of the Audit Committee, Lee Gowan states: “I am very proud of everyone in Blount County who’s helped accomplish this. A lot of funds flow through the Blount County’s offices in the course of a year. Everybody gets part of the audit: each constitutional office, the schools, etc., and each of those areas are reviewed throughout the audit process. It’s incredibly complicated and includes a lot of moving parts. Five years of no findings says a lot about all of the different departments and people we have in place handling those departments. I’ve done a lot of audits in my career. It’s good to have one year, even two without a finding. Five is unprecedented and very, very special.”

Chairman of the Blount County Commission, Ron French, says “This is outstanding news! I commend all Elected Officials, all department heads and all employees of Blount County for continuing to go above and beyond. Your perseverance, diligence and devotion to duty is evident and speaks volumes to the pride in which you take in the performance of your assigned responsibilities. I’m convinced that this is an unprecedented accomplishment not only in Blount County’s audit history but also in those of other counties in the state. I’m sure I speak for the entire Blount County Commission in saying we are very proud of each and every one of you. Thank you for keeping Blount County in the forefront of our great state of Tennessee.”