Tennessee Code Title 9. Public Finances § 9-3-208

(a) These auditors are authorized to collect any amounts that their audits may show to be due and owing to the state and county from any such county official; and also to collect any delinquent or unpaid inheritance and succession taxes and privilege and ad valorem taxes that may be due and owing to the county and state, and to report the same to the county mayor for the portion of the same due to the county, and they shall report to the comptroller of the treasury the portion of the same due to the state; provided, that the same can be collected by the auditors without suit.

(b) But in the event the auditors cannot collect the sums without suit, they shall report the same to the county mayor and to the comptroller of the treasury, and it shall be the duty of the county mayor to have the county attorney of such county, if there be a county attorney elected, and if not, then an attorney of such county mayor's selection residing in the county, to institute suit or suits for the collection of these sums so reported by these auditors within ninety (90) days from the date of receiving such report; provided, that the same has not been barred by the statute of limitation; and provided further, that if it is in the matter of inheritance or succession taxes, that the full time for making payment of same has expired, or, if pending on exception, when disposition is made of such exception. In the event the county mayor fails or refuses to have such suits instituted as herein provided, within ninety (90) days after receiving such report, the comptroller of the treasury may appoint an attorney to institute and prosecute a suit or suits for the benefit of the state and county.