Voter Primer: What elected county offices do (and what they don't do)
County government can feel complicated, especially when different offices have responsibilities that sound similar. To help simplify things, here’s a quick, plain-language breakdown of what these county offices do and don’t do, so voters have the facts they need before casting a ballot.
Highway Supervisor (County Highway / Road Department)
They do this:
- Oversee county road and bridge maintenance and operations under state law (County Uniform Highway Law).
- Implement the county’s highway work program and supervise road crews and highway projects where authorized by county law or private act.
- Work with county legislative body on budgets and contracts related to highways and bridges.
They don’t do this:
- Highway supervisors do not manage non-highway county services (e.g., parks, solid waste, or courthouse functions).
- They do not decide other county departments’ policies or county-wide tax rates.
- They do not maintain state highways — that’s Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).
Note: CTAS doesn’t list a single “Highway Supervisor” duty page because many county highway roles are created by charter or private act, but general highway department duties are outlined in the County Uniform Highway Law.
County Trustee
They do this:
- Collect all county and state property taxes.
- Serve as the county treasurer: receive, account for, invest, and disburse county funds.
- Keep detailed financial records and accounts.
- Provide necessary financial documentation to the county mayor and comptroller.
They don’t do this:
- They don’t set tax rates — that’s done by the county legislative body and assessor.
- They don’t enforce tax policy or budgets — they handle money after those decisions are made.
- They don’t run other offices (e.g., courts, licenses).
County Clerk
They do this:
- Act as clerk of the county legislative body (keep minutes, issue meeting notices).
- Issue motor vehicle titles and registrations.
- Process and collect privilege taxes.
- Issue beer permits, marriage licenses, pawnbroker licenses, etc.
- Maintain and provide access to key county records.
They don’t do this:
- They don’t run elections — that’s handled by the County Election Commission (though they interact closely).
- They don’t oversee court prosecutions or handle court records (those are court clerks’ duties).
⚖Circuit Court Clerk (Clerks of Court)
They do this:
- Attend court sessions with case files.
- Administer oaths to witnesses and parties.
- Maintain and organize court records, dockets, and indexes.
- Track court fines, fees, and costs, and manage related financial records.
- Invest idle court funds as permitted by law.
They don’t do this:
- They don’t decide legal cases — they support the court’s administrative functions.
- They don’t enforce laws or operate law enforcement agencies.
- They don’t oversee county budgeting or non-court services.
Register of Deeds
They do this:
- Record and preserve instruments and legal documents (deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, etc.).
- Ensure public access and indexing of these records.
- Collect correct fees for recording documents.
They don’t do this:
- They don’t enforce property law or handle property tax billing/collections (that’s trustee/assessor).
- They don’t issue drivers licenses, conduct elections, or maintain court dockets.
These offices may vary in their responsibilities, but each one plays a role in how our county functions day to day. By learning what these positions do — and don’t do — voters can participate with confidence and hold the right offices accountable for the right tasks. Knowledge is one of the most important tools we take into the voting booth.
Members Discussion