Justin Wilson Archives - Tennessee Star

Fairfax, Arlington, and Alexandria Approve Plastic Bag Taxes

September 20, 2021September 19, 2021 Eric Burk

Five-cent taxes on single-use plastic bags are spreading across Virginia’s more urban localities. On Saturday, Arlington County and the City of Alexandria adopted the local tax ordinances, while Fairfax County adopted a similar ordinance on September 14. The taxes take effect on January 1, 2022.

“Arlington is proud to take this step to reduce plastic bag waste in our community and to do so with our regional partners,” Arlington County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said in a press release. “We have long sought the legal authority for this small fee as a way to protect our environment and become a more sustainable community. We look forward to working with residents and neighbors on implementation.”

Tennessee Comptroller Justin Wilson Announces He is Leaving Office, Names Preferred Successor

December 17, 2020December 16, 2020 Chris Butler

Tennessee Comptroller Justin Wilson announced Wednesday that he is stepping down from his position, but he also said he has a successor in mind. Wilson, in a letter to members of the Tennessee General Assembly, suggested that Deputy Comptroller Jason Mumpower replace him.

Tennessee Comptrollers: Former County Mayor Tried to Hide Wife’s Role in Auto Accident

July 5, 2020July 4, 2020 Chris Butler

Former Haywood County Mayor Franklin Smith filed a false accident claim after his wife was involved in an auto accident in May 2018 while she drove a county-owned vehicle, according to Tennessee Comptrollers.

Comptrollers did not identify the former county mayor by name in a report they submitted this week.

Official with Taxpayer-Funded Lebanon Medical Facility Allegedly Stole More than a Half-Million Dollars

May 18, 2020May 17, 2020 Chris Butler

The former chief operating officer of the taxpayer-funded Cumberland Pediatric Associates in Lebanon allegedly stole more than half a million dollars, Tennessee Comptrollers said.

Comptrollers identified the woman as Emily Gannon.

Another Year, Yet Another Horrible Audit for Decatur County

February 24, 2020February 24, 2020 Chris Butler

Tennessee Comptrollers said in an audit late last week that the Decatur County government’s problems are severe enough that, as of now, they will not approve the county’s new budget.

The county taxpayers will also have to pay a nearly $10,000 fine to the Internal Revenue Service, Comptrollers said.

Tennessee Comptrollers Find Fault, Yet Again, with Crockett County Government

January 30, 2020January 29, 2020 Chris Butler

An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has resulted in the indictment of April Hicks, a former bookkeeper in the Crockett County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.

Tennessee Comptrollers Release Results of Their Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Hotline

January 21, 2020January 20, 2020 Chris Butler

Some people may not know it, but if you see or know of waste, fraud of abuse in the local or Tennessee state governments then you can call a special hotline to report it.

Yet Another Tennessee School Cafeteria Manager Indicted for Theft

January 20, 2020January 19, 2020 Chris Butler

A Tennessee Comptroller’s Office investigation has resulted in the indictment of Christina Morris, the former cafeteria manager at Patriot Academy in Dandridge, Tennessee.

Audit: Tennessee Department of Correction Leaders Must Improve Oversight

January 11, 2020January 10, 2020 Chris Butler

Tennessee Comptrollers released an audit Friday that, among other things, blasted the Tennessee Department of Correction for poor management of prisons and not reporting things they were supposed to report.

Audit Finds Need for Improved Board Oversight of Safety and Security on University of Tennessee Campuses

December 20, 2019December 19, 2019 Chris Butler

A new performance audit by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has found a number of areas that require increased oversight by the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees.

Tennessee Comptrollers: More Than $3.5 Million in Misused Public Money Remains Uncollected

December 11, 2019December 10, 2019 Chris Butler

Two new reports from Tennessee Comptrollers show that local governments are short millions of dollars.

BonDeCroft Utility District Employees Abused Powers, Audit Says

October 25, 2019October 24, 2019 Chris Butler

Members of the BonDeCroft Utility District in White County abused their positions of public trust to help themselves, according to an audit Tennessee Comptrollers released Thursday.

Big Sandy Employee Allegedly Stole Money From Taxpayers

October 24, 2019October 23, 2019 Chris Butler

The former recorder for the town of Big Sandy allegedly stole more than $4,000 from the town, according to Tennessee Comptrollers.

Former Spring Hill Finance Employee Charged with Theft

October 2, 2019October 1, 2019 Chris Butler

Authorities have indicted a former Spring Hill finance department employee and charged her with various charges related to her alleged theft of more than $1,500 of other people’s money.

Former Fentress County Accounts Payable Clerk Allegedly Stole Nearly $240,000

September 6, 2019September 5, 2019 Chris Butler

A Fentress County employee allegedly stole nearly $240,000 from taxpayers, according to an audit Tennessee Comptrollers released this week.

The Tennessee Star Report’s Gill and Leahy Discuss WCS Superintendent Mike Looney and the ‘Unresponsive’ Williamson County School Board

March 20, 2019March 19, 2019 Julie Carr

On Tuesday’s Tennessee Star Report with Steve Gill and Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 am to 8:00 am – Gill and Leahy discussed the legal implications of Williamson County schools Superintendent Mike Looney who has allegedly gone rogue and…

Tennessee Comptroller Justin Wilson Faults McNairy County Leaders for Yet Another Lousy Audit

March 2, 2019March 1, 2019 Chris Butler

Over in McNairy County, there’s a lot of room for improvement with how county officials manage taxpayer money, according to an audit Tennessee Comptrollers released this week. “The county’s audit for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018 includes 11 findings of noncompliance or significant deficiency within county government offices,”…

Smith County Must Pay $35,000 for Not Complying with Obamacare, Audit Says

February 16, 2019February 15, 2019 Chris Butler

The federal government assessed the Smith County School System more than $35,000 for not complying with Obamacare, according to a state audit released this week. Smith County taxpayers, of course, will have to pick up the slack and pay that fine. The audit, however, did not offer specifics. “During the…

Tennessee Comptrollers Blast Decatur County for Mismanaging Taxpayer Money

February 10, 2019February 9, 2019 Chris Butler

The Decatur County government has just received less than admirable state audit findings. With 11 findings as opposed to the previous year’s eight, that’s putting it mildly. In a press release, for instance, Comptrollers say this year’s results “leave much room for improvement.” “The audit findings reveal many problems including…

JC Bowman Commentary: Let the Committee Decide

February 9, 2019February 8, 2019 JC Bowman

How did a system designed to provide government of, by, and for the people devolve into a system in which bureaucrats unaccountable to voters produce masses of law that was never voted on by an elected official?

Tennessee Comptrollers’ Office Made Fewer Audit Findings in FY 2017

November 20, 2018November 20, 2018 Chris Butler

Members of the Tennessee Comptrollers’ Office say they had far fewer city and county audit findings in Fiscal Year 2017 than they did the previous fiscal year. This has gone on for the past few years, said John Dunn, spokesman for the Tennessee Comptrollers’ Office. “For example, in FY 2016,…

Combatting Sexual Misconduct in the Classroom

March 10, 2018March 10, 2018 JC Bowman

The safety and well-being of students is the highest priority of any school. Any educator sexual misconduct or sexual abuse that involves children destroys trust and harms the entire school community.