Tennessee Code Title 7. Consolidated Governments and Local Governmental Functions and Entities § 7-34-103

(a) It is declared to be the policy of this state that any municipality acquiring, purchasing, constructing, reconstructing, improving, bettering or extending any public works pursuant to this chapter shall manage such public works in the most efficient manner consistent with sound economy and public advantage, to the end that the services of the public works shall be furnished to consumers at the lowest possible cost.

(b) No municipality shall operate public works for gain or profit or primarily as a source of revenue to the municipality, but shall operate public works for the use and benefit of the consumers served by the public works and for the promotion of the welfare and for the improvement of the health and safety of the inhabitants of the municipality.

(c) No use of revenues authorized by this chapter shall be construed as being contrary to the policy declared in this section.