Knox County Trustee Justin Biggs is at the center of an investigation by Tennessee’s watchdog agency into extravagant spending of taxpayer dollars.
Biggs and his staff were reimbursed $4,716.59 that exceeded the county rate for hotel rooms on 10 trips from August 2023-November 2024, according to records reviewed by Knox News. In all, Biggs and his staff paid $17,314.58 for those hotel rooms. Trustee staff also have driven county-leased vehicles for personal use, according to GPS records obtained by Knox News.
Biggs was elected trustee in 2022 with the important job of collecting the tax payments and grants that power Knox County’s $1 billion annual budget. He’s essentially the county’s banker, tracking the money Knox County takes in and spends.
The trustee’s office is one of eight in Knox County headed by an elected official. All eight operate independently of the county commission and the county mayor. They’re in charge of their own oversight and are paid salaries ranging from the $164,903 for Biggs to the $208,601 paid to Sheriff Tom Spangler.
The office employs 38 staffers. Biggs, before his election, worked in various capacities within the office for almost two decades, including eight years as the collections team administrator.
The trustee’s office has long been tainted by scandal, even before Biggs’ tenure. Former Trustee Mike Lowe pleaded guilty to theft in 2012 and former Trustee John Duncan III pleaded guilty to official misconduct in 2013. Lowe stole more than $750,000 from the county and Duncan illegally approved over $18,000 in illegal bonuses for himself and others.
Only one of the past four Knox County Trustees, Ed Shouse, has served without raising the eyebrows of watchdog officials.
What does the Knox County Trustees’ office do?
The Knox County Trustee’s office has three main duties.
Collecting residential, commercial and personal property taxes, as well as money given to the county through state and federal grants.
Accounting for and disbursing county funds.
Investing county money to earn the county interest and investment profits.
Why the Knox County trustee matters
Bill Lyons, associate director for community outreach of the Institute of American Civics at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville’s Baker School, told Knox News counties cannot function without someone managing taxpayer dollars.
“(The trustee’s office does) absolutely fundamental work that the county has to do to exist,” Lyons said. “Somebody has to keep track of keeping funds, that’s essential.
“When you’re talking about what the state provides to its citizens through the county, (the trustee) ensures these services are provided.”
Money constantly is being moved around between Knox County and partners like the city and state, Lyons said.
“The money has to be taken care of,” Lyons said. “These transactions have to have someone overseeing them (and) making sure the county dollars flow when they’re supposed to where they’re supposed to.”
Allie Feinberg reports on politics for Knox News. Email her: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: What does the Knox County trustee do? Why the investigation matters