Commissioners Terry Spearman, James Pearson, William Martin, Aaron Ellison, Adrian Montague and Claudell Martin Brown Jr. were the only six to vote against the measure. Brett Beckham abstained from voting.
The Madison County Commission voted 18-6 to approve $49.4 million in renovations to the Criminal Justice Center (CJC).
The jail renovation will be financed by $32.5 million in bonds already issued, and an additional $17 million loan.
The finances on the $17 million loan are not yet available.
The county issued two separate bonds to finance some of the jail construction. The first bond was for $40 million in which $30 million went to the jail and $10 million went to the school district. The second bond was for $10 million in which $7.5 million went to the school district and $2.5 million was set aside for the jail renovation.
Four years ago the county formed a committee to study overpopulation at the jail after being told by the Tennessee Corrections Institute that the CJC didn't meet the standards of the state for decent living conditions.
Between Sept. 23 and Oct. 11, 471 people were booked into Madison County jails.
Throughout the discussion, those opposing the jail renovation made the issue about schools versus the jail.
"It is not a choice between a jail or school," Madison County Mayor Jimmy Harris said. "It's a choice to take care of this problem and then we'll take care of the school system."
Harris, along with most of the commissioners who support the jail renovations, were adamant that they had to renovate the jail.
"If we don't do this, we'll have the federal government stepping in, telling us the price tag," District 10 Commissioner Harold Petty said. "This is the most economical way to get this done.
District 6 Commissioner Arthur Johnson Jr. originally opposed the renovations to the CJC.
While the commission debated the issue for 20-25 minutes, no one in the public was allowed to speak, and there was no official agenda item listing the jail vote.
Instead, as commonly done, the jail item was discussed during a review of the general fund transfers.