MONTGOMERY — New legislation filed by State Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore) would allow a state authority overseeing prison construction to borrow an additional $500 million.
The Alabama Legislature approved $1.2 billion in funding for two 4,000-bed facilities in 2021 in Elmore and Escambia Counties in response to a 2020 lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice concerning poor prison sanitation, violence between inmates, excessive force from staff and sexual assault.
Lawmakers are still examining ways to fund a second prison in Escambia County since the Elmore County project was way over budget. The new 4,000-bed prison in Elmore County is projected to cost $1.08 billion.
Members of the Alabama Corrections Institution Finance Authority unanimously approved a resolution in November naming the Elmore County facility the Governor Kay Ivey Correctional Complex.
The members of the authority are Ivey, Alabama Department of Corrections commissioner John Hamm, director of finance Bill Poole, State Rep. Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville), Albritton, State Sen. Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) and director of Pardon and Paroles Cam Ward.
Senate Bill 60 would increase the maximum amount of bonds that may be issued by the Alabama Corrections Institution Finance Authority (ACIFA) from the current amount of $785 million up to the amount of $1.285 billion for the purpose of facilitating the funding of the phased plan for the construction and renovation of prison facilities to replace existing bed space. This would increase the annual debt service obligations of the state by an estimated $30.5 million for 30 years.
Albritton said on Wednesday the bill would be up for a vote in the Senate General Fund budget committee next week.
“We have 60% of the monies on hand for the Escambia prison. Elmore should come online in about a year and we hope that within the next six to eight months we’ll begin construction in Escambia. We have funds for all that. What we’re doing here is creating a means where we stop looking into sofa cushions and other things trying to find monies to cobble together. We’re simply going to authorize an additional $500 million in bond amounts to be able to complete construction of both facilities. It’s not a requirement, it’s simply availability. That way the issue of cost is off the table. We can stop trying to cobble things together and we can move on to full planning, scheduling, and construction,” Albritton said.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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