Reference Number: CTAS-1849
Under the Tennessee County Uniform Highway Law the chief administrative officer (CAO) has oversight of the county highway department. Pursuant to T.C.A. § 54-7-113, which governs the receipt and disbursement of county highway funds as well as county highway purchases, the funds of the county highway department shall be expended only upon a disbursement warrant drawn on the trustee in accordance with law. See Op. Tenn. Atty. Gen. 01-084 (May 23, 2001) (funds for the county road system must be expended upon the warrant of the county trustee). Note that some private acts provide warrant issuing authority to the CAO of county highway departments.