Tenn. Code § 7-90-117
The authority shall be a public nonprofit corporation and no part of its net earnings remaining after payment of its expenses shall inure to the benefit of any individual, firm or corporation, except that in the event the board of directors shall determine that sufficient provision has been made for the full payment of the expenses, bonds and other obligations of the authority, including reserves for the expenses, bonds and other obligations; any net earnings of the authority thereafter accruing may be used to provide a reserve for depreciation of any project or projects undertaken by such authority, in an amount determined by the board of directors to be necessary and reasonable, and net earnings available thereafter shall be paid to the municipality with respect to which the authority was organized; provided, that nothing contained in this section shall prevent the board of directors from transferring all or any part of its properties in accordance with the terms of any lease entered into by the authority; and, provided further, that in no event shall such transfer inure to the benefit of a private entity.
T.C.A. § 7-90-117