Veteran Budget Official Receives Prestigious National Award

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) today honored a veteran state budget official with a prestigious national award. Charles Brown, budget coordinator for revenue and taxes, received NASBO’s George A. Bell Award in a ceremony at the William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower.  The award recognizes state budget personnel for outstanding contributions and service to public budgeting and management in state government.

“NASBO is proud to recognize Charles as a valuable resource in the planning, development and execution of the state budget for more than 40 years,” NASBO executive director John Hicks said. “The nomination noted that since he came to the budget office, he has become the ‘go-to’ source for almost all questions regarding the budget.”

A middle Tennessee native, Brown began his state government career in 1978, serving in the Governor’s Planning Office and the research division of the Department of Economic and Community Development. He moved to the state budget office in 1998, where he now helps produce annual state budget overviews and tax revenue estimates, analyzes the fiscal effect of legislation and monitors federal legislation and federal budget activity.

“Charles has participated in the development and management of over 20 budgets covering a wide range of very difficult issues, working with six different governors and their appointees,” state budget director David Thurman said in nominating Brown for the award. “I have always appreciated his vast knowledge, his calm demeanor, his thoughtful approach to his work and his consistent attention to detail."

Brown holds a bachelor’s degree in urban planning from Middle Tennessee State University, a master’s degree in planning from the University of Tennessee and a Master of Business Administration from Vanderbilt University.

The division of budget within F&A is responsible, at the direction of the governor, for the year-long process of development, preparation, deliberation, and execution the state’s budget document.

For over 70 years, NASBO has been the professional membership organization for state budget and finance officers. NASBO is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit research and educational organization located in Washington, D.C. All state budget office employees are members of NASBO.