Knox County, Tennessee Expenses knoxexpenses.com

Knox County Hospitality Fund

Knox County Hospitality Fund was establised by the Knox County Mayor's office to fund expenditures that they deemed should not not be funded with taxpayers money.

From June, 2004 until August 3, 2007, the account was used for a wide variety of purposes.

Knoxville News-Sentinel has an article describing the fund and the decesion to halt its use. See Article

I reviewed the expenditures and it appears that the fund has been overdrawn since May 5, 2005.  Expenditures by date

I also reviewed the source of the funding by event and matched the expenditures.  It would also appear that expenditures were made  for purposes other than the intent of the contribution.  Expenditures by source

The Knox County Law Director office has issued two memos to the County Mayor's office as to how the Knox County Hospitality fund should operate.

Memo dated July 13, 2007    Memo dated June 18, 2007

Here are some questions that have been sent to Mayor Ragsdale related to the fund.   See letter

Mayor's Office Use of P-card

The P-card records are open to the public for review. I reviewed certain credit card records and receipts, of the Mayor's office staff, that were made available.  I have sent questions to the Mayor Ragsdale and asked that he respond as he is the chief fiscal agent of Knox County.

Mayor Mike Ragsdale questions

Cynthia Finch, Community Services Dir. questions

Email from Mayor's office 07-30-2007

Here are the regulations that govern these expenses:

Knox County Travel Policy and Regulations

Knox County Purchase Card Regulations

Here is a letter to Knox County Law Director regarding credit card expenses

You have the right to review most county financial records. The Tennessee Open Records Act states that taxpayers have the right to review and copy these records during normal business hours.