TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Kate Prince on Apr 7, 2022

Chancellor Anne Martin yesterday heard arguments over the state comptroller’s financial takeover of Mason, Tennessee, a small town less than 10 miles from the Ford megasite, WPLN reports. Tennessee Comptroller Jason Mumpower wrote a letter to Mason’s 1,337 residents, most of whom are Black, asking them to relinquish their town charter rather than fix their budget problems. The town opted to fix its budget rather than dissolve, but is suing to challenge whether the state can control every dollar that’s spent. Martin said the request put the town in “a no-win choice situation.” Mason officials say they felt “attacked” and noted that majority-white towns in East Tennessee with far deeper financial problems were never asked to dissolve. Memphis attorney Van Turner called the move “offensive” and said “there is an aspect of discriminatory treatment when you look at this case.”