Any participating county official who fails to qualify for retirement benefits under the provisions of this chapter, or the named beneficiary if county official is deceased, will be paid by the retirement board through the state treasurer, all of the total three and one-half per cent (3 ½%) and/or four per cent (4%) contributions made to the system by the county officials as a member and also such interest as may be established by the Tennessee county officials retirement board.
T.C.A. § 8-4020