Sgt. Jake Miller walks the corridor inside the Rhea County Jail in Dayton, Tenn., where at least 15 male inmates reside. Currently, officials continue the debate over the jail’s expansion or building a justice center off-site.
Photo by Kimberly McMillianDAYTON, Tenn. – Rhea County officials will consult with financial advisers including the state comptroller of the treasury to see how much they can borrow to solve jail and court overcrowding and security problems.
Meeting in workshop session Wednesday, commissioners asked Finance Director Bill Graham to seek guidance from state officials before committing to a course of action.
“We know there is a need,” Commissioner Ron Masterson said. “We have to figure out how we can pay for this. Before I feel like we’re ready to go off [the current jail] site, I’d like to get a demonstration that says ‘this is ridiculous.’
“I see advantages to the downtown [current] site. We can build now and eliminate overcrowding for inmates. It doesn’t do a lot for courtroom or office space,” he said. “We wouldn’t have to build any courtrooms. In my opinion, we have to borrow something under $10 million [to avoid an] outrageous property tax or wheel tax.”
County Executive George Thacker said he has spoken with loan officers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was told the county could borrow at 3.5 percent interest for up to 38 years.