Tennessee State Treasurer, David Lillard, Jr., recently sent over a letter to Bedford County Finance Director Robert Daniel.  

It seems that over 4,000 of our citizens and businesses in Bedford County have unclaimed property on file with the state.  

State Sen. Shane Reeves and State Rep. Pat Marsh graciously contacted the T-G this week to let us know how Bedford Countians can claim it. Thank you Shane and Pat; you’re always looking out for the best interest of Bedford County.  

That means much. Check for free online at www.ClaimItTN.gov to see if you have anything out there.  

Here’s something to note: The 110th General Assembly, in 2017, passed legislation, allowing the State Treasurer’s office to return missing money to local governments and Tennessee schools—without requiring them to file a claim.  

In the letter to Daniel, the state treasurer stated: he was pleased to also return unclaimed property to Bedford County Government in the form of a state warrant in the amount of $1,261. 

Unclaimed property is money that’s been turned over to the State Treasurer by businesses and organizations that were unable to locate the rightful owner.  

This is a legislative program. What, the government gives money back? Well, sometimes.  

Technically, it doesn’t belong to them, but to taxpayers. What is amazing is that in fiscal year 2020-2021, the program established by Tennessee General Assembly and administered by the Tennessee Department of Treasury, processed over 47,000 claims for the return of unclaimed property and over $35 million was returned to Tennesseans.  

Check on this folks!  

If you think you have unclaimed funds, seek it out. I’m sure a lot of people would have loved to have had that extra cash a couple of years ago. But due process takes time, as we all know.