Source: https://cannoncountytn.org/financial-management-committee/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 20:52:40+00:00

Document:
Approved by County Commission September 18, 2018.
SPECIAL STIPULATIONS: Under this system, there is a county financial management committee. The committee consists of the county mayor, supervisor of highways, director of schools, and four (4) members elected by the county legislative body. The four elected members need not be members of the county legislative body. T.C.A. § 5-21-104 (b).
FUNCTION: The financial management committee establishes and approves policies, procedures, and regulations implementing a sound and efficient financial system for administering the funds of the county. T.C.A. § 5-21-104 (e).
SPECIAL NOTE: The county legislative body, by resolution, either may create the following committees or it may authorize the financial management committee to assume functions of any or all of the following special committees: (1) budget committee, (2) investment committee, and (3) purchasing committee. T.C.A. §§ 5-21-104 (e) and 5-21-105.
The County Financial Management System of 1981 (CFMS of 1981) is one of the two optional general law statutes of local application that a county may adopt to centralize the county’s purchasing functions. The system is similar to the 1957 acts; however, under this act, the county operates under one act rather than three separate acts. Furthermore, unlike the 1957 acts, the school funds are managed under this system just like all other county funds. The commissioner of education may remove the school department if records are not maintained properly and timely. T.C.A. § 5-21-124.
• Is found in T.C.A. §§ 5-21-101 through 5-21-130.
• Provides for the consolidation of financial functions and establishment of a financial management system for all county funds operated through the county trustee.
• Creates a department of finance to administer the finances of the county and all funds handled by the trustee, in conformance with generally accepted principles of governmental accounting and rules and regulations established by the state comptroller of the treasury, state commissioner of education and state law. T.C.A. § 5-21-103.
• Allows the county to choose between two organizational options for purchasing.
• Must be installed within 13 months, beginning on July 1 of the fiscal year after its adoption. T.C.A. § 5-21-127.
• Requires approval by a two-thirds vote of the county legislative body or a majority of the voters in a referendum in order to be effective in any county. T.C.A. § 5-21-126.
Applicability to the Department of Education.
School funds are managed under this system just like all other county funds. The commissioner of education may remove the school department if records are not maintained properly and timely. T.C.A. § 5-21-124.
• Budgeting—T.C.A §§ 5-21-110 through 5-21-114.
• Accounting and Fiscal Procedures— T.C.A. §§ 5-21-115 and 5-21-116.
• Payroll Account—T.C.A. § 5-21-117.
• Purchasing—T.C.A. §§ 5-21-118 through 5-21-120.
• Conflict of Interest/Improper Gifts—T.C.A. § 5-21-121.
• Compensation of Committee Members—T.C.A. § 5-21-122.
Under this system there is a county financial management committee. The committee consists of the county mayor, supervisor of highways, director of schools, and four (4) members elected by the county legislative body. The four elected members need not be members of the county legislative body. T.C.A. § 5-21-104 (b). The financial management committee establishes and approves policies, procedures, and regulations implementing a sound and efficient financial system for administering the funds of the county. T.C.A. § 5-21-104 (e).
The finance director oversees the operation of the department of finance and installs and maintains a purchasing, payroll, budgeting, accounting, and cash management system for Reference Number: CTAS-909 Reference Number: CTAS-910 points a purchasing agent.
If the county legislative body approves a separate purchasing department and a purchasing agent is hired, all duties and responsibilities relative to purchasing are removed from the finance director. T.C.A. § 5-21-118.
Duties of the Finance Director/Purchasing Agent.
• Contracting, purchasing, or obligating the county for supplies, material, equipment, contractual services, rental of machinery, buildings, or equipment. T.C.A. § 5-21-118(b)(1).
• Transferring materials, supplies, and equipment between county offices or agencies. T.C.A. § 5-21-118(b)(1).
• Supervising the storeroom or warehouse. T.C.A. § 5-21-118(b)(2). • Contracting for building construction and purchase of land. T.C.A. § 5-21-118(b)(3).
• Public sale of all surplus materials, equipment, buildings, and land. T.C.A § 5-21-118(b)(4).
• Reviewing all contracts and purchases for biddable supplies, materials and equipment, and other needs of the county. T.C.A. § 5-21-119(b)(1).
• Reviewing specifications and changes to allow for maximum competition. T.C.A. § 5-21-119(b)(5).
• Preparing formal and informal bids. T.C.A. § 5-21-119(b)(5).
• Collecting sealed bids and opening bids publicly. T.C.A. § 5-21-119(b)(5).
• Evaluating bids (and submitting bids for approval by the financial management committee if required by the committee). T.C.A. § 5-21-119(b)(5).
The rules concerning bidding under the County Financial Management System of 1981 are set out in T.C.A. § 5-21-120, and do not provide the level of detail as is found in the County Purchasing Law of 1957. The details for the competitive bidding process under this act must be set out in the policies and procedures established by the financial management committee with the assistance of the purchasing agent.
Bid Thresholds—The financial management committee sets the dollar limitation over which formal competitive bids are required. This amount is not to exceed the amount authorized under state law for the highway and education departments or other such amounts as established by law.
Biddable Items—“Biddable items” means any need of the county where more than one bidder or contractor in the county‘s trade area can provide the material or service. Specifications cannot be written to exclude vendors and contractors or limit the bidding to a specific bidder or contractor. T.C.A. § 5-21-120(b).
Specifications Development—The development of specifications is to be made by the department, agency, or official to receive the merchandise, construction, or service. The specifications must be reviewed by the purchasing agent and changed as necessary to allow for maximum competition of prospective bidder. T.C.A. § 5-21-119(b)(4) and (5).
Sale of Surplus Property—Under this act, the finance director/purchasing agent is responsible for the public sale of all surplus materials, equipment, buildings, and land. T.C.A. § 5-21-118(b)(4).
• The finance director must verify budget appropriations before authorizing a purchase. T.C.A § 5-21-119(b)(6)(B).
• The finance director approves for payment only those invoices that are properly authorized and do not exceed the unencumbered balance of the allotments or appropriations against which they are chargeable. T.C.A § 5-21-115(b)(2).
• Before any obligation against the county can be paid or any disbursement warrant or voucher issued, a detailed invoice, receivable copy of the purchase order, or other document indicating receipt of the merchandise or service is to be approved by the head of the office, department, or agency for which the obligation was made and be filed with the finance director. T.C.A § 5-21-115(b)(1).
• The county is liable for payment of all purchases and supplies, materials, equipment and contractual service made in accordance with the provisions of the CFMS of 1981, but is not liable for payment of such purchases made contrary to it unless such item is specifically approved by the financial management committee. T.C.A § 5-21-120(c).
The County Financial Management System of 1981 contains a broad conflict of interest statute which prohibits the finance director, purchasing agent, members of the financial management committee, members of the county legislative body, or other officials, employees, or members of the board of education or highway commission from being financially interested or having any personal beneficial interest, either directly or indirectly, in the purchase of any supplies, materials, equipment or contractual services for the county. No firm, corporation, partnership, association or individual furnishing any such supplies, materials, equipment or contractual services, may give or offer, nor may the director or purchasing agent or any assistant or employee accept or receive, directly or indirectly, from any person, firm, corporation, partnership, or association to whom any contract may be awarded, by rebate, gift, or otherwise, any money or other things of value whatsoever, or any promise, obligation, or contract for future reward or compensation. T.C.A § 5-21-121.
Any official or employee of the county who fails or refuses to perform the duties required by the County Financial Management System of 1981 or who otherwise fails to conform to the requirements of the act commits a Class C misdemeanor and is subject to removal from office or position. T.C.A. § 5-21-125.

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