Government Accountability

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties of a Tennessee County Mayor

The County Mayor is the chief executive officer of the county. Their job is to make sure county government runs properly, follows state law, and serves the public. Below is a clear, easy‑to‑understand summary of what the law expects from a Tennessee County Mayor.

1. Runs the Day‑to‑Day Operations of County Government

The County Mayor is responsible for the overall management of county government. This includes:

  • Overseeing county departments
  • Making sure county offices follow state law
  • Coordinating county services
  • Addressing county‑wide problems

They are expected to understand how all parts of county government operate.

2. Chief Financial Officer of the County

The County Mayor is legally responsible for county finances. This includes:

  • Overseeing accounting and financial records
  • Managing county budgets (with approval from the county commission)
  • Ensuring county money is spent properly
  • Protecting county property and assets

They must make sure taxpayer money is handled responsibly.

3. Care and Custody of County Property

Unless the law assigns a specific department to manage certain property (like the highway department), the County Mayor is responsible for:

  • County buildings
  • County equipment
  • County land
  • County vehicles

They must ensure county property is maintained, protected, and used correctly.

4. Appoints Boards, Commissions, and Department Heads

The County Mayor has the authority to appoint people to:

  • County boards
  • County commissions
  • County committees
  • Certain department head positions

These appointments must be confirmed by the county commission. This gives the mayor major influence over how the county operates.

5. Ex Officio Member of All County Committees

The County Mayor is a non‑voting member of:

  • The county commission
  • All county committees
  • All county boards

They can attend meetings, participate in discussions, and stay informed about county operations.

6. Full‑Time Duty Requirement

The County Mayor must devote full‑time to the job unless the county has voted otherwise. They may not take outside employment that interferes with their duties.

7. Hiring Authority

The County Mayor may hire:

  • Secretaries
  • Administrative assistants
  • Clerical staff

These positions must fit within the budget approved by the county commission.

8. Ensures Compliance With State Law

The County Mayor is responsible for making sure county government follows:

  • Tennessee statutes
  • State regulations
  • County policies
  • Budget laws
  • Records‑retention laws
  • Open‑records laws (TPRA)
  • ADA requirements for public access

If county offices fail to follow the law, the County Mayor is responsible for addressing it.

9. Works With the County Commission

The County Mayor:

  • Proposes budgets
  • Makes recommendations
  • Provides reports
  • Helps set county‑wide priorities

The mayor does not vote, but they play a major role in shaping county policy.

10. Represents the County

The County Mayor represents the county in:

  • Intergovernmental meetings
  • State and federal discussions
  • Public events
  • Emergency management coordination

They are the public face of county government.

Responsibilities

What the County Mayor Must Do When Laws Are Broken or an Administrative Order Violates State or Federal Law

The County Mayor is the chief executive officer of the county, responsible for the overall operation of county government. Because of this role, the mayor has specific responsibilities when they become aware of:

  • unlawful conduct by county employees
  • violations of state or federal law
  • unconstitutional practices
  • ADA Title II access violations
  • failures in county departments
  • court orders that conflict with higher law
  • failures to maintain required records

Below is a clear explanation of what Tennessee law and federal civil‑rights standards require from a County Mayor in these situations.

1. The County Mayor Must Ensure County Government Follows State and Federal Law

The County Mayor is responsible for the general supervision of county government. This includes ensuring that:

  • county departments follow Tennessee statutes
  • county operations comply with federal law
  • county policies do not violate constitutional rights
  • county employees follow required procedures

If the mayor becomes aware of unlawful conduct or violations, they are responsible for addressing it through administrative action, reporting, or corrective measures.

2. The County Mayor Must Act When County Employees Break the Law

If a county employee (outside the sheriff’s chain of command) violates:

  • state law
  • federal law
  • county policy
  • ADA access requirements
  • records‑retention laws

…the County Mayor is responsible for:

  • investigating the issue
  • documenting the issue
  • taking corrective action
  • ensuring the violation does not continue
  • reporting the issue when required

The mayor cannot ignore unlawful conduct by county personnel.

3. The County Mayor Must Follow Federal Law Above Local Orders

Under the U.S. Constitution:

Federal law overrides state law, and state law overrides local administrative orders.

This means:

  • If a judge issues an administrative order that conflicts with federal law, the County Mayor cannot enforce or support the unlawful portion of the order.
  • The mayor must follow federal civil‑rights law, ADA Title II, and constitutional protections first.

The mayor is not permitted to enforce or support policies that violate higher law.

4. The County Mayor Must Ensure ADA Title II Compliance

The County Mayor is responsible for ensuring that county government — including courthouse access — complies with:

  • ADA Title II
  • reasonable accommodation requirements
  • equal access standards
  • nondiscrimination rules

If an administrative order or county practice blocks access unlawfully, the mayor must take steps to correct it.

5. The County Mayor Must Maintain and Produce Public Records

Under the Tennessee Public Records Act (TPRA), the County Mayor must ensure that:

  • county records are properly maintained
  • complaint records are preserved
  • public‑records requests are answered
  • records are not destroyed improperly

If complaints “do not exist,” the mayor is responsible for ensuring the county has a proper record‑keeping system.

6. The County Mayor Must Address Systemic Failures

If the mayor becomes aware of:

  • repeated violations
  • patterns of misconduct
  • ADA access failures
  • courthouse entry problems
  • lack of complaint tracking
  • failure to follow state law

…the mayor must take administrative action to correct the system.

This may include:

  • policy changes
  • staff training
  • internal reviews
  • reporting to the county commission
  • requesting legal guidance
  • coordinating with state agencies

The mayor cannot ignore systemic issues.

7. The County Mayor Must Report Serious Issues When Required

Depending on the situation, the mayor may be required to report:

  • misuse of county funds
  • violations of state law
  • ADA discrimination
  • civil‑rights violations
  • failures in county departments
  • unlawful administrative practices

Reports may go to:

  • the county attorney
  • the county commission
  • the Tennessee Comptroller
  • state oversight agencies
  • federal authorities (for ADA or civil‑rights issues)

8. The County Mayor Must Protect the Public’s Right to Access Government

The mayor is responsible for ensuring:

  • safe access to county buildings
  • nondiscriminatory treatment
  • ADA‑compliant entry
  • transparency in county operations
  • lawful public‑records access

If a court order or county practice interferes with these rights, the mayor must take steps to correct the issue.