New Agreement Allows Town of Mason to Avoid Total Financial Takeover - Articles

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New Agreement Allows Town of Mason to Avoid Total Financial Takeover

Posted by: Kate Prince on May 4, 2022

The town of Mason, Tennessee yesterday announced it has reached an agreement with the state that will prevent the Tennessee Comptroller from taking over its finances, the Associated Press reports. Mason, a predominantly Black town, had argued that state officials were placing unfair scrutiny on their finances and treating town leaders differently than white administrators in the same financial situations. Davidson County Chancellor Anne Martin last month denied the town’s request to temporarily halt the takeover while it made its way through court. The deal will require Mason officials to notify the state of any non-payroll expenditures over $1,000. They’ll also have to file monthly reports, instead of the weekly reports as originally negotiated, and the monthly payment Mason must make to its water and sewer funds was cut down by almost 50%. The agreement must still be approved by Martin.