(AP) -- Oconee County may be able to use its excess jail capacity to bring in up to $900,000 by housing inmates from the Fulton County jail in Atlanta. 

Oconee County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to accept up to 80 prisoners from Fulton County into their 140-bed facility.  Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry says the one-year deal could be worth up to $900,000. 

Berry says that since the county opened the jail in early 2008, it has made similar deals with Barrow and Jackson counties to house their inmates at $30 per day. Fulton County commissioners are scheduled to decide whether to make the deal next week. 

Berry says Fulton County would cover the cost of the inmates' health care and also would handle transportation to and from Oconee County.

(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)