Tenn. Code Ann. § 9-13-202

The general assembly finds and declares that it is in the best interests of the citizens of this state that local governments be fiscally responsible and utilize sound financial management principles in serving their citizens. The general assembly notes that there are certain conditions and circumstances in which local governments must have emergency technical and financial assistance if they are to better serve their citizenry or, in the case of economic distress due to natural disaster, must have the financial flexibility to stabilize their financial condition. It is the intent of this part to provide procedures whereby local governments may acquire such emergency technical and financial assistance provided and guaranteed by the state or, in the case of natural disaster, may obtain adequate financing, thus enabling such local governments to stabilize their financial condition and to meet their current operational and debt service costs.