Benton County Commission approves Private Act Chapter 73 to update county finance rules

The Benton County Commission voted June 15 to approve Chapter 73 of the Private Acts of 2026, a state private act that, once locally adopted, revises the county's statutory framework for budgeting and financial oversight.

Resolution No. 20260615-26, sponsored by the county Private Acts and Budget committees, records that the state legislature enacted Chapter 73 and that local approval requires a two-thirds vote. The private act text entered in the meeting record describes a new budget committee of up to five county legislative members, outlines duties for preparing and posting a budget synopsis and public hearings, and sets rules for investment of idle county funds and restrictions on financial conflicts of interest. It also contains enforcement language for official misconduct and directions for certification to the Secretary of State.

Commissioner Bain moved to approve the resolution; Commissioner Kiehn seconded. The commission approved the measure on a roll-call vote of 17 Aye, 0 No, 1 Absent. The meeting record includes the full private act text in the minutes and certification language required by state law.

The private act, as recorded in the meeting minutes, prescribes a budget process (timeline beginning after the second Monday of March, public hearings, and an annual budget adoption ideally by July 1), requires the Budget Committee to review departmental requests and to provide an itemized budget, and directs that the county adopt policies for investing idle cash funds consistent with Tennessee Code Annotated. It also sets out accountability measures for over-expenditures and possible removal for official misconduct.

The resolution directs the presiding officer to certify the local approval to the Tennessee Secretary of State as required by state law.