Jim Arnette, director of Local Government Audit with the state Comptrollers Office, said Friday the Cocke County Legislative Body will not lose its authority under the proposed County Financial Management System of 2013.

Arnette contacted the Plain Talk Friday afternoon in reference to an article published in the Feb. 12 edition concerning legislation. Arnette said some of the information presented to the Finance Committee of the CLB at last week's meeting was inaccurate.

"There's been a lot of rumors and inaccuracies made," he said. "This legislation will not create bureaucracy or invite corruption, as Trustee (Rob) Mathis stated. It will do right the opposite. It's an upgrade to the 1981 Financial Management Act and the 1957 Control Acts, which Cocke County operates under. The last time any changes were made was 32 years ago. We think it's time to move forward."

For more details, please see the weekend edition of the Newport Plain Talk.