KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — State investigators have released a report detailing alleged misconduct by Knox County Property Assessor Phil Ballard and a former county employee who resigned in April.

Ballard faces one count of official misconduct over the misuse of county-owned vehicles. A report by the Tennessee Comptroller's Office, which audits state and local government entities, found that he improperly used a county vehicle approximately 150 times while receiving a $7,600 annual travel allowance.

County travel policies encourage employees to use county-owned vehicles when conducting official business, but officials can opt to use a personal vehicle instead and have travel costs reimbursed by the county. Officials who receive a travel allowance should not use county vehicles.

Ballard r

See Full Page