In a 2021 special session, the Alabama Legislature approved $1.3 billion in funding for two prisons. Now, the price tag for just one is approaching $1 billion, leaving some lawmakers frustrated and with more questions than answers.
The two 4,000-bed facilities — one in Escambia County and the other in Elmore County — were thought to be needed promptly as the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) continues to be under the federal government's scrutiny.
Part of the 2021 legislation that approved the money also created the Joint Legislative Prison Oversight Committee, which meets quarterly to hear reports from ADOC.
The initial estimated cost of the Elmore prison was $623 million. However, the Alabama Corrections Institution Finance Authority (ACIFA) voted to increase the authorized spending on the project to $975 million in March, a 56% increase.
The final pricing of the Elmore facility is still being negotiated, but it is expected to be close to $1 billion. Since the Elmore prison will take up nearly all the funding allocated by the legislature in 2021, the Escambia location will require additional money.
State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) has been critical of the executive branch’s handling of the new construction and the increased funding.
During an appearance on FM Talk 106.5’s “The Jeff Poor Show,” Elliot expressed his displeasure at the lack of accountability regarding the massive jump in cost for the prisons.
“It is going to cost a whole lot more money than what was projected by [Hamm] and the [Ivey] administration,” Elliott said. “They did not have a handle on what this was going to cost from the very beginning. They didn't know it when they were signing a deal with private prisons, they didn’t know it when they were asking the legislature for more money to do these prisons, and I don’t think they know it now. It is very frustrating. And the legislature is in it neck deep at this point, and the question is what do you other than just say, ‘Fine, we’re in it, and we got to appropriate more money to fix it.’”
State Rep. Matt Simpson (R-Daphne), who sits on the prison oversight committee, expressed frustration with the lack of transparency regarding the massive jump in funding.
“It’s basically like if you’re going out buying a car,” Simpson told 1819 News. “The legislature acts as the pocketbook in appropriations. You say you need a new car. We agree you need a new car. You get to go out and buy a new car. But that doesn’t mean that you get to buy a Rolls Royce or an Aston Martin. Sometimes a Ford or a Chevy will do just fine.”
Earlier this month, the Joint Legislative Prison Oversight Committee met for only the second time since its inception to hear an updated report on the construction of the two prisons. ADOC Commissioner John Hamm displayed pictures of the precast prison cells slated for use at the Elmore location.
The cells come premade, with panels to keep any electrical or plumbing material from being accessed by inmates.
"These cells that are coming, it's a billion dollars for 4,000 beds; that's roughly the ballpark of what we're getting," Simpson said. "That becomes $250,000 a bed. Well, the average home in Alabama is $170,000, so why are we having to spend so much money? I don't know the answer to that. I think Commissioner Hamm is trying to do the best he can, but at the same time, it's $250,000 a bed, you've two beds in a cell. That means every cell is half a million dollars. Why?"
He continued, "I'm not alleging any impropriety. I am not saying they aren't doing the best they can. I am saying the price has skyrocketed. We're paying a tremendous amount of money for beds, and I just want to know why."
"This Elmore prison has moved up to a billion dollars. Does that mean that the prison in Escambia County is going to be another billion? Are we going to spend $3 billion on the same number of beds that we had four years ago? There's just a lot of questions that I believe this committee was created for and I think we have an opportunity to ask these questions."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
