MONTGOMERY — Legislation increasing how much the State of Alabama can borrow to pay for new prison construction passed the Senate General Fund Budget Committee on Wednesday.
Senate Bill 60 would increase the maximum amount of bonds that may be issued by the Alabama Corrections Institution Finance Authority 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.
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 have been 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.
State Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore), the bill’s sponsor, said in committee on Wednesday the state already has about 60% of the funds to build the new Escambia County prison.
“Frankly, we don’t have the money to finish (a second prison),” Albritton said. “We need the money to deal with that.”
The bill will now go to the Senate for their consideration.
State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) said during the committee meeting, “In conversations with the chairman and with the Governor's Finance Director the indications are that we’re actually going to bid this project out before we start construction on it.”
“While we may have a certain amount of authorization here, we for once, are going to have a firm price on the project prior to starting so we will know what it is. Do we know it now? No, but we will know,” he added.
Members of the Alabama Corrections Institution Finance Authority unanimously approved a resolution in November naming the Elmore County facility the Gov. Kay Ivey Correctional Complex. Construction on the Elmore facility is expected to be completed by the summer of 2026.
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.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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