2023 Tennessee Code › Title 12 - PUBLIC PROPERTY, PRINTING AND CONTRACTS (§§ 12-1-101 — 12-12-113) › Chapter 10 - PUBLIC BUILDING AUTHORITIES ACT OF 1971 (§§ 12-10-101 — 12-10-124) › Section 12-10-102 - Purposes - Liberal construction

(a)
(1)
It is hereby found and declared that there exist in many municipalities within this state inadequate and outmoded public buildings, structures, and facilities for the furnishing of governmental, educational and other public services and for use in the conduct of government by the various branches, departments and agencies thereof; that in many cases, by reason of the age and physical condition of such public buildings, structures and facilities and the increased activities on the part of both the citizens and government, such facilities are no longer adapted or adequate to meet the needs of the growing population; that, as a consequence thereof, there are many counties, cities and towns, and other branches and agencies of state and local government within the state which are compelled to spend large sums of money annually in the rental, operation and maintenance of additional building space to house the various branches, departments and agencies of government to meet this ever increasing need; that, as a result thereof, in many of the counties, cities and towns within this state, the public buildings housing the various branches, departments and agencies of government are widely scattered and dispersed throughout the locality, thereby resulting in reduced efficiency of operation in the necessary intergovernmental activities of the various branches and agencies of government; that many public records, wills, conveyances, vital statistics, court decrees, and other similar documents in use in the conduct of daily business, are now filed in poorly protected and overcrowded spaces and at widely separated locations by reason of the lack of an adequate public building or buildings; that the rendering of governmental, health, safety, educational, and welfare services is adversely affected by reason thereof, to the detriment of the citizens in such counties, cities and towns; that the shortage of adequate buildings, structures and facilities impairs the efficient and economical governmental functions of the various branches and agencies of government and the rendering of governmental, educational, health, safety, and welfare services; that in many instances it is not feasible for the various branches and agencies of government to make capital expenditures for the purpose of constructing or acquiring public buildings, structures or facilities and there are not otherwise available buildings, structures or facilities for rent for public purposes; that in many instances effective cooperation between various units of government in providing adequate facilities for the rendering of public services has been hampered because of inadequate statutory authority therefor; and in order to eradicate these conditions, it is hereby found and declared to be necessary and desirable to make possible the construction, acquisition, or enlargement of public buildings, structures, and facilities, hereafter in this chapter referred to as "projects," to be made available for use by municipal corporations and other public lessees at convenient locations within the counties, cities and towns, in the efficient and economical furnishing of governmental, educational, health, safety, and welfare services to the citizens of such counties, cities and towns; and the eradication of the aforementioned conditions by the passage of this chapter to authorize the incorporation in the several counties, cities and towns of public corporations to finance, acquire, erect, own, operate, maintain, lease, and/or dispose of public buildings, structures, and facilities for the use of the several municipal corporations and other public lessees is hereby declared to be a public use essential to the public interest.
(2)
It is further found and declared that, in this state and in many municipalities within this state, there exist serious deficiencies in and a need for additional public buildings, structures, facilities, roads, streets, sidewalks and alleys and that such public buildings, structures, facilities, roads, streets, sidewalks and alleys are in need of enlargement and repair, to the end that the quality of life and the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of this state and the municipalities therein will be enhanced and protected and that the transportation of goods and persons and the flow of commerce will thereby be facilitated, and that it is necessary and desirable to make possible the construction, acquisition, enlargement, repair and renovation of such public buildings, structures, facilities, roads, streets, sidewalks and alleys, hereafter also in this chapter referred to as "projects," to be made available for use by the state of Tennessee or any agency, authority, branch, bureau, commission, corporation, department or instrumentality thereof, and municipal corporations and other public bodies, and any such undertaking is hereby declared to be a public use essential to the public interest.
(b)
This chapter shall be liberally construed in conformity with such intention.
Acts 1971, ch. 126, § 2; T.C.A., § 12-902; Acts 1980, ch. 653, §§1-3; 1982, ch. 902, §§ 1-3; 1984, ch. 823, § 1.