Page 8 - May-June24 Vol42 No1

STATEWIDE By John Chlarson
UT MTAS: Serving Tennessee

Cities and Towns for 75 Years

It would create a unique and effective MTAS Purpose Outlined (fire and police), public utilities, public
partnership that would stand the test of The original legislation describes the works, and training.
time. MTAS purpose as follows: “MTAS has existed 75 years because
In 1949, Herb Bingham, executive “It shall be used for studies and of a solid legislative foundation that set
director of the Tennessee Municipal research in municipal government, a purpose that is meaningful and useful
League (TML), introduced legislation publications, educational conferences to the 345 municipalities of this state,”
creating a progressive concept of an and attendance thereat and in furnishing said MTAS Executive Director Margaret
agency to provide technical advice and technical consultative and field services Norris. “I appreciate the cities and towns
assistance to Tennessee municipalities. to municipalities in problems related for their support and continued use of
Thus, the Municipal Technical to fiscal administration, accounting, our services.”
Advisory Service (MTAS) was tax assessment and collection, law Thousands of Participants Assisted
established that year by the Tennessee enforcement, improvements in public
General Assembly specifically to provide works, and in any and all matters relating In fiscal year 2023, MTAS answered
technical consulting services statewide to to municipal government.” 37,563 requests for assistance and
cities and towns. Over the years, MTAS added to the provided 18,139 training hours to nearly
And MTAS continues to thrive 75 original services offered (municipal 6,000 participants. Additionally, MTAS
years later. management, public works, and assisted Tennessee cities and towns to
Once codified, MTAS was placed in finance) by establishing an extensive realize nearly $7,552,640 in economic
the University of Tennessee’s Division of municipal information library, fee-based impact through reducing costs and
University Extension with an advisory codification services, and an extensive increasing revenues.
council made up of professors in the training program for municipal officials From a staff of five in its early days,
subject areas of business management, and employees. to a staff of over 50 individuals today,
sociology, law, engineering, political MTAS continues to grow and evolve to
science and TML’s Bingham. Today, Wide Variety of Services Offered fulfill its mission through a diverse range
MTAS resides in the UT Institute for In total, MTAS provides consulting of consultative services, educational
Public Service and is one of six agencies services in the areas of finance and programs, and information services
that serve Tennessee as part of the accounting, human resources, legal aimed at equipping municipalities with
university’s land grant mission of public assistance, municipal management, the necessary tools and knowledge to
outreach. ordinance codification, public safety improve the lives of those they serve.

8 TPW May/June 2024