RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - Recent actions by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office — including a detailed review of Rutherford County property appraisals — have intensified an already heated conflict between state officials and the local Property Assessor. While Rutherford County Property Assessor Rob Mitchell continues to publicly dispute the Comptroller’s report, the Comptroller’s Office maintains its findings are accurate. Regardless of who is right or wrong, the county now faces a substantial bill. The $234,166 charge stems from Comptroller Jason Mumpower’s findings presented before the County Commission on October 16, 2025.

The county must pay the sizable bill to the Comptroller within 45 days. If the county fails to pay, the state has its own means of collecting the money... That was County Finance Director Michael Smith explaining the requirement. A vote followed shortly after, and all 21 commissioners voted in favor of paying the bill.

The Comptroller’s Office reported significant error rates in Rutherford County’s property assessments and recommended switching to state-approved software used by most Tennessee counties. Mitchell has strongly pushed back on all counts, calling the report misleading and defending his office’s appraisal practices. The dispute has escalated to the point that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has opened an investigation into the Property Assessor’s Office, increasing scrutiny on both sides of the conflict.

The Comptroller also recommended that the county hire a third-party firm to conduct a more extensive review or an independent study of local property appraisals.

County Attorney Nick Christiansen explained that his office has evaluated the idea of hiring an outside vendor to examine a percentage of the county’s properties. Such a vendor could independently review any amount — from 10% of all parcels to a full 100% review. At the conclusion of their analysis, the vendor would provide the county with a detailed report identifying whether property valuations are accurate. If commissioners choose to move forward, a Request for Proposals (RFP) would be issued, the Purchasing Committee would select a vendor, and the Budget Committee would then approve funding. Christiansen cautioned commissioners that the cost of such an independent review would be significant.

Any reappraisals conducted by an outside firm could not be used by the county in its own active reappraisal cycle. However, the findings could help determine whether current valuations are correct or require further action.

Meanwhile, the state continues to urge Rutherford County to change its property assessment software to align with the system used by the State of Tennessee and numerous other counties throughout the state. Transitioning to the new software would require discontinuing the county’s current license and retraining employees within the Property Assessor’s Office.