County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS) was created by the Tennessee General Assembly in 1973 at the urging of county officials and the Tennessee County Services Association (TCSA), who wanted an agency to provide prompt, accurate technical assistance for all aspects of county government on a daily basis to Tennessee's 95 counties.
CTAS helps fulfill the land-grant mission of the University of Tennessee by providing outreach, training, and research in all 95 counties across the state.
T.C.A. § 49-9-402, the authorizing legislation that established CTAS as part of the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service (IPS), directs CTAS to:
“...provide studies and research in county government, publications, educational conferences and attendance at the conferences, and to furnish technical, consultative, and field services to counties of the state in problems relating to fiscal administration, accounting, tax assessment and collection, law enforcement, improvements and public works, and in any and all matters relating to county government.”
CTAS is staffed by a group of talented professionals with expertise in a variety of diverse subjects. Each county is a part of a region served directly by a single county government consultant who acts as the initial contact with the agency. County government consultants leverage the skills and knowledge of other specialists within CTAS to address specific needs and problems of the county.
Learn more about our history or services we offer.