The actual cost of the state's mega-prison in Elmore County has nearly doubled since winning the approval of the Alabama Legislature during a special session in 2021.
While inflation has played a role, the cost increases have far exceeded those of the rate of inflation.
According to State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine), the design-build delivery method used by the Ivey administration could be to blame for the excessive increase.
During an appearance on Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5's "The Jeff Poor Show," Elliott said it was time to examine that process and proposed using the traditional bid-build delivery approach for the sister Escambia County prison facility.
"I think they're moving forward, certainly on the Elmore prison site," he explained. "Completion dates always slide a little bit in most every construction project that I've been around, but certainly in ones that are related to the government. I've actually got a text or two from Commissioner [John] Hamm while we've been on the phone, so he may be trying to update us on that right now. But I think the Elmore facility is what it is. The question comes, and you heard this in the Prison Oversight [hearing], and also the last contract review committee meeting, is what is the delivery method for the Escambia County facility going to look like? And I know the Associated Press had reported on this some."
"To me, the importance is to look at going back to a design-bid-build delivery method. Very infrequently in government do we have two very similar, if not identical, projects where we can compare apples and apples. And in this case, we get about as close to that as we can, and we can compare and contrast those delivery methods to see are we really saving money with this alternative delivery method that has ballooned in cost on the Elmore site, or could we have saved a whole lot more money staying with a more traditional design-bid-build method?"
Jeff Poor is the editor in chief of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
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