Oak Ridge Today

Phillips resigning as Anderson County budget, accounts director

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Chris Phillips

Chris Phillips

Note: This story was updated at 10:52 p.m. Jan. 6.

Chris Phillips announced Wednesday that he is resigning as director of accounts and budgets for Anderson County. Phillips notified Anderson County commissioners of his resignation in a Wednesday morning email.

The email doesn’t give a reason for the resignation or say whether Phillips has accepted another job, and he wasn’t immediately available for comment early Wednesday afternoon.

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank was also not immediately available for comment. Update: Both Phillips and Frank have responded to a request for comment, and Oak Ridge Today will post an updated story as soon as possible.

“It has been an honor to serve each of you,” Phillips wrote to commissioners. “While I have been blessed with a tremendous opportunity, this decision comes with some heartache as I dearly love and respect the people I work with and for on a daily basis. Everyone in this courthouse has shown me kindness and has respected this position. I want to particularly thank the folks here in the budget office and in the school finance office. They have supported me, through many ups and downs, and have performed impeccable work for the citizens of Anderson County, you as commissioners, and me personally. [Read more…]

Anderson mayor: Budget proposal holds spending steady, no tax increase

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Terry Frank

Terry Frank

The budget proposed by Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank for the next fiscal year would keep most county departments at current-year spending levels and it includes no tax increase, a press release said.

The proposed general fund budget was presented to the Anderson County Budget Committee on Tuesday afternoon, and it was unanimously approved at Thursday evening’s budget meeting, the Mayor’s Office said in the release.

The next fiscal year begins July 1.

The balanced $25,088,157 budget for the county’s general operating fund proposes maintaining a focus on stabilizing spending levels until “we have full economic recovery,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Phillips to return as county budget director, step down as commissioner

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Chris Phillips

Chris Phillips

CLINTON—Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank announced Thursday that Chris Phillips will be rejoining Anderson County government as budget director.

“I never wanted Chris to leave, but I certainly understood from the beginning that Lake City, now Rocky Top, was in search of next-level management in modernizing their accounting structure,” Frank said. “Though Chris tried to accomplish Rocky Top’s goals by working part-time on weekends, it really took him leaving the county to be in Rocky Top full-time. I made it clear from the get-go that if I had not filled the budget director position, he was always welcome back home here in Anderson County government.”

“While the thought of disappointing those who were kind enough to vote for me weighs heavily on me, I know I can best serve the people of this county by implementing and directing policy, rather than making policy, and that requires that I step down from my position as Commissioner to serve Anderson County in another way,” said Phillips, who was elected to one of two Anderson County Commission seats in District 4 on August 7.

Phillips will resign his County Commission seat effective October 10, a press release said.

Former Anderson County Commissioner Zach Bates, who ran for county mayor in the May 6 Republican primary, did not seek re-election in District 4, which includes the Lake City (Rocky Top), Briceville, and Rosedale voting precincts. [Read more…]

Guest column: Anderson mayor’s budget includes no tax increase

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Terry Frank

Terry Frank

CLINTON—Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank has presented her administration’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

Frank’s proposed general fund budget, as recently presented to the Budget Committee, keeps most county departments at current-year spending levels and includes no tax increase. It was unanimously approved at a May 15 budget meeting.

The balanced $25,010,105 budget for the county’s general operating fund proposes maintaining a focus on stabilizing spending levels until we have full economic recovery. [Read more…]

Anderson County Accounts and Budget Office receives award

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Anderson County Accounting Office Award

Pictured above from left are Anderson County Budget Director Chris Phillips, Deputy Budget Director Connie Aytes, and Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank. (Photo courtesy of Anderson County Government)

Anderson County government recently announced that its Accounts and Budget Office has received the Popular Annual Financial Report Award, or PAFR Award.

The PAFR Report is a voluntary report that counties can choose to compile and publish in order to condense the financial position of the county. The goal of popular reports is to present budget information in a way that is easy to understand, a press release said.

“We scored an 86.7 percent out of 100 percent by the panel of 3 judges,” Anderson County Deputy Budget Director Connie Aytes said. “One judge gave us a 96.8 percent grade. I am honored to say this now makes the 11th consecutive year we’ve won the award.” [Read more…]

Anderson County receives award for financial reporting

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Anderson County Financial Reporting Award

Anderson County Budget Director Chris Phillips, from left, County Mayor Terry Frank, and Deputy Budget Director Connie Aytes display the certificates received from Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. (Submitted photo)

Anderson County announced this week that its Accounts and Budgets Office has received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the county’s comprehensive annual financial report, or CAFR.

The Certificate of Achievement has been awarded by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. Anderson County is approaching the 20th consecutive year that it has received the award from GFOA, according to records, a press release said.

The release said the Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

[Read more…]