Tennessee Code Title 7. Consolidated Governments and Local Governmental Functions and Entities § 7-84-822

(a) An assessment, any interest accruing on the assessment, and the costs of collection of the assessment constitutes a lien on and against the property upon which the assessment is levied as of the effective date of the resolution levying the assessment.  The lien is superior to a lien of any trust deed, mortgage, mechanic's or material supplier's lien, or other encumbrance, except a lien of the state, county, or municipality for taxes.

(b) Notwithstanding this part to the contrary, amounts collected by a host municipality or a municipality that has been delegated administration responsibilities pursuant to § 7-84-820, must not be allocated to the payment of a special assessment by an owner in the district until all taxes, penalties, and interest relating to real property taxes imposed by any governmental entity with the power of taxation, including municipalities and special school districts, have been paid in full.

(c) The host municipality or a municipality that has been delegated administration responsibilities pursuant to § 7-84-820, may allocate any payment received by an owner that is designated to pay special assessments to the payment of taxes, penalties, and interest until such amounts are paid in full.  Otherwise, a host municipality or a municipality that has been delegated administration responsibilities pursuant to § 7-84-820, shall collect and enforce special assessments in a district in the same manner as the collection and enforcement of real property taxes, including the authorization to bill special assessments to property owners within the district on the same invoice as ad valorem real property taxes.