Within the coming weeks, state officials are expected to announce the details of a prison build-lease plan, part of Alabama’s effort to reform its prison system and get it in compliance with federal standards. According to reports, the state of Alabama would enter into a deal with a company (or two companies) that would build three new prisons, which would be leased by the Alabama Department of Corrections.
Under this plan, savings would be generated by the upgraded facilities that would reduce costs in terms of personnel and upkeep, which would make it possible for Gov. Kay Ivey’s administration to enter into the agreement without input or a vote of the Alabama Legislature.
Critics argue the state could save taxpayers money if the state bonded the construction costs out while interest rates were low and built facilities that would be owned by the state, as opposed to paying a contractor rent on new facilities. However, previous legislatures had been unable to agree on an overall plan, which has seemingly forced the state to seek alternatives as the Department of Justice’s scrutiny increases.
During an interview on Friday’s broadcast of Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5’s “The Jeff Poor Show,” State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Daphne) expressed his willingness to take on the prison issue. At the same time, some of his legislative colleagues are reluctant.
“[I] didn’t run for office to not have to make tough decisions,” he said. “I welcome those tough decisions. That’s why the people of my district elected me. That’s what I’m here to do. I think shying away from that once you’ve been elected is really the wrong answer. But I would say to anybody who is not willing to take this on, you know, we have a responsibility to the taxpayers to make sure we run this government as efficiently as possible.”
Elliott expressed his skepticism about the cost savings from using upgraded facilities as being enough to fund the Ivey administration’s proposal.
“Mark my words — we’re going to run into a situation where the governor’s projections on the annual cost of these leases are going to fast outpace what they say they’re going to be able to fund with and that is the savings on maintenance,” Elliott continued. “This is going to end up costing a whole lot more money. And most of this legislature and this governor are going to be gone by the time those chickens come home to roost. And it’s going to be left to the taxpayers to fund an inefficient and expensive plan.”
“I think there is no way in the world that that passes the smell test, and anybody believes that is going to happen,” he added.
@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor of Breitbart TV, a columnist for Mobile’s Lagniappe Weekly and host of Mobile’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on FM Talk 106.5.
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