In June 2025, the Rhea County Commission passed a resolution, announced by Sheriff Mike Neal, to fully fund the $1.7 million annual payment for the new Rhea County Justice Center using revenues from housing federal and state inmates.

The Sheriff’s Office expanded its inmate housing capacity with the new facility, generating approximately $4 million annually, supplemented by income from inmate commissary sales, telephones, and state office rent, which also covers the Justice Center’s utility costs.

Sheriff Neal highlighted this as a taxpayer-friendly achievement, as the facility’s payment is made without additional tax dollars, crediting the success to strong collaboration with County Executive Jim Vincent and the County Commissioners, including Chairman Jim Reed and others.