By CHRISTOPHER BUTLER

Officials in Pickett County misused almost $150,000 of taxpayer money, according to an audit that state Comptrollers released today.

In addition, Comptrollers faulted a general sessions judge in the county for forcing criminal defendants to contribute to charitable and civic organizations — which is something beyond the usual fines and costs associated with their court cases.

In one instance, county officials issued a $72,000 capital outlay note to purchase two fire trucks, but without the county commissioners’ approval, as Tennessee law requires.

In other instances:

• Expenditures exceeded total appropriations approved by the County Commission in the General and Drug Control funds by $44,839 and $2,220, respectively.

• Expenditures exceeded appropriations approved by the County Commission in the Operation and Maintenance of Equipment major appropriation category of the Highway/Public Works Fund by $11,511.

• Expenditures exceeded total appropriations approved by the County Commission in the Central Cafeteria Fund by $7,612.

• The clerk did not report and pay to the state unclaimed funds (old outstanding checks) totaling $4,026.

Pickett County officials were out of the office on Thursday and could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, the General Sessions Judge who ordered defendants to contribute to charitable or civic organizations violated Tennessee law, Comptrollers said in their report.

In such a scenario, the state attorney general has already opined that the judge did not have the authority to order any defendant to do such a thing.

County officials must also address numerous problems with their accounting and bookkeeping practices, Comptrollers said.

Christopher Butler is the editor of Tennessee Watchdog and the Director of Government Accountability for the Beacon Center of Tennessee. Contact him at chris@beacontn.org

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