Another article out of Texas-I honestly can't take credit for finding either one-thanks has to go to cyberbuddies who let me know when they spot anything in reference to the prison industry.
Karnes officials considering offer
from Wackenhut to buy prison
By Jesse Clements
Express-News Staff Writer
KARNES CITY -- Karnes commissioners are to decide Wednesday
whether to accept a proposal to sell the county-owned prison facility
here to Wackenhut Corrections Corp. of Florida.
Karnes County Judge Alfred Pawelek said he considered the deal a
"win-win'' proposition for the county because the 100-plus employees
working at the prison would be retained and the county no longer
would be responsible for the balance on outstanding revenue bonds,
which would be retired.
He added that transferring the prison to a private ownership would
place the facility on the tax rolls for the first time.
"The county will receive about the same amount of revenue we were
getting before, based on the 25-cents-per-day-per-bed rate, when it's
placed on the tax rolls.
"In addition, they would also start paying taxes to the local school
district and the city of Karnes City,'' Pawelek said.
The fair market value is being decided by the appraisal district and no
tax abatements are involved, he said.
The $15 million, 500-bed prison opened in 1996, financed by revenue
bonds issued by the county at no charge to taxpayers.
The Karnes County Detention Facility was operated by the Bobby
Ross Group of Austin since it opened, but Wackenhut took over Jan.
15 when BRG's contract expired, the judge said.
Wackenhut was given a temporary operating contract pending
negotiations for its sale.
"I want to stress that the final decision will be made by the
Commissioners Court. I am only expressing my opinion of the deal,''
Pawelek said.
The judge said another plus for the county in the proposal is that
Karnes County would be given 10 free beds at the facility, meaning the
county would not have to worry about building a new jail for a while.
"We are now taking our prisoners to the jail in Goliad where we pay
$35 a day per prisoner, plus the sheriff is constantly tied up hauling
prisoners back and forth down there,'' he added.
Pawelek estimated the per diem rates and transportation to Goliad
adds up to about $150,000 a year.
Friday, March 6, 1998
Enjoy DD |
