Tenn. Code Ann. § 12-10-118

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 shall determine that sufficient provision has been made for the full payment of the expenses, bonds and other obligations of the authority, including reserves therefor, then 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 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 herein contained shall prevent the board from transferring all or any part of its properties in accordance with the terms of any lease entered into by the authority.