Rutherford County, TN - Rutherford County is leading the way in fiscal health according to the latest financial metrics from the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office and the Division of Local Government Finance.
The data measures government debt, expenditures, and cash on hand to track and analyze financial trends. Rutherford County has the healthiest cash reserve fund out of the top 10 largest counties. The debt ratio is 3 %, which is second to Sumner County at 2% and significantly better than Davidson at 7.5%.
Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr was not surprised at the data.
“These results are achieved by strong leadership and implementation of strategic conservative fiscal principles,” Carr said. “In three short years we’ve gone from a $64 million budgeted deficit to having the strongest financial balance sheet in the state. Collaborating with our finance director, Michael Smith, Rutherford County Trustee Teb Batey, and our department directors we have been able to stop disastrous fiscal policies and put the county on the right path.”
Rutherford County Government Finance Director Michael Smith, CPA, reflected on the data.
“We’re proud of where Rutherford County stands financially,” Smith said. “That didn’t happen by accident. It comes from sticking to conservative budgets, keeping strong reserves, and planning ahead, even with inflation and the kind of growth this county has seen. It takes a team to do that. Our finance department works closely with the Mayor’s Office, County Commission, and the Rutherford County School Board to make sure we are making sound decisions with taxpayer dollars. It reflects the discipline, partnership, and shared commitment necessary to keep us in great shape.”
Carr noted how the budget has been balanced for three years, employees have received cost of living salary increases, and nearly $350 million dollars has been invested in school construction.
All of this was accomplished while maintaining Rutherford County’s AAA bond rating from the three major credit rating agencies.
“Improvement this significant can never come from just one person,” Carr said. “Rutherford County citizens can be proud of the work being done on their behalf.”
The Comptroller’s data may be found at https://comptroller.tn.gov/office-functions/lgf/resources/fiscal-metric-infographics.html.
