{"county":"knox","description":null,"district":"knox","districtgroup":"county","id":451,"key":"assessor_of_property","lastchangeby":null,"name":"Phil Ballard","next_election":null,"notes":null,"officegroup":null,"partisan":0,"party":null,"qualities":"- Statutory duty to value all real and personal property in Shelby County uniformly and on schedule for the property-tax base \u2014 Tennessee Code Annotated Title 67, Chapter 5.\n- Working knowledge of mass-appraisal methods, the four-year reappraisal cycle, and the appeals process before the Board of Equalization and the State Board.\n- Management of a large professional staff of appraisers, GIS analysts, and customer-service personnel.\n- Public-facing communication: assessment is one of the most contested government functions, and clear explanations of methodology and appeal rights matter.\n- Independence from collection (the Trustee bills) and from spending (the Commission and Mayor) \u2014 the Assessor's role is valuation, period.","quantity":1,"source":null,"state":"TN","term_end":"2026-09-01","term_start":"2022-09-01","term_years":4,"terms":[{"current":1,"description":null,"electiondate":"2022-08-04","name":"Phil Ballard","person":{"biography":"## Current office\n\nPhil Ballard serves as Knox County Assessor of Property, having been reelected in the August 2024 Republican primary for a term running through August 2028 [1][2]. He previously held the same office from 2008 to 2016 [1][2].\n\n## Background and education\n\nBallard is a lifelong resident of East Knox County's Carter community, where he attended Carter High School and continues to reside with his wife, Cindy [2].\n\n## Career\n\nBallard worked for approximately 30 years in the insurance industry before entering public service [2]. He was first elected Knox County Property Assessor in 2008 and served two terms through 2016, implementing technology improvements and staff training programs [1][2]. He holds a Tennessee Real Estate License and the AAS designation from the International Association of Assessing Officers, and was voted East Tennessee Assessor of the Year by his peers [1]. He returned to the office following his August 2024 election [1][2].\n\nIn August 2025, a Knox County grand jury indicted Ballard on a felony count of official misconduct, alleging that between September 2024 and January 2025, he simultaneously drew a county vehicle and a travel allowance in violation of county policy [3][4]. A separate report indicated that Ballard and another individual acquired two parcels at a county tax sale in July 2024 for approximately $500 and subsequently sold them for more than $60,000 each [3]. Ballard posted a $5,000 bond and continued to serve as Property Assessor as the case proceeded [3][4].\n\n## Sources\n\n- [1] [Re-Elect Phil Ballard for Knox County Property Assessor \u2013 Campaign Website](https://www.ballardonballot.com/)\n- [2] [Election 2024: Property Assessor \u2013 Compass Knoxville](https://compassknox.com/2024/07/02/election-2024-property-assessor/)\n- [3] [Knox Co. Property Assessor Phil Ballard charged with official misconduct \u2013 WBIR](https://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/knox-co-property-assessor-phil-ballard-charged-with-official-misconduct-amid-ongoing-state-probe/51-a022271f-593a-4800-a894-e25fe8b11a42)\n- [4] [Knox County, TN property assessor indicted for official misconduct \u2013 WATE](https://www.wate.com/news/knox-county-news/knox-county-property-assessor-indicted-for-official-misconduct/)","firstname":"Phil","lastname":"Ballard","token":"OBqD9U4z2k"},"term_end":"2026-09-01","term_start":"2022-09-01"}],"title":"Assessor of Property","type":"executive","url":null,"whenchanged":"2026-04-26 14:42:29"}