Members of the Alabama Corrections Institution Finance Authority (ACIFA) have increased the project price cap on the construction of a new 4,000-bed prison in Elmore County from about $623.6 million to $975 million.

The over $350 million increase is “due to circumstances beyond the control of the Authority or ADOC ... which could not have been reasonably anticipated,” according to a resolution passed by ACIFA on Wednesday afternoon. The resolution didn’t outline specifics about what circumstances led to such a large price increase.

Other changes in the resolution include an increase of about $4 million in the design-phase sum from $42 million to $46 million. The resolution also included an approximately four-month increase to the initial final completion date from 1,382 to 1,506 days following a notice to proceed with design phase work issued by ACIFA. The Elmore County Prison was previously estimated to be completed sometime in 2026

Governor Kay Ivey signed into law legislation funding two new prisons in Elmore and Escambia counties following a special session in 2021.

Members of ACIFA include Ivey, ADOC Commissioner John Hamm, Alabama Director of Finance Bill Poole, State Rep. Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville), State Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore), State Sen. Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) and Pardon and Paroles Director Cam Ward.

ACIFA Resolution by Caleb Taylor on Scribd

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