"If we cannot recoup the cost of making the move, then we probably shouldn't do it," Huntsman said Monday night during a debate televised live on KSL TV. "I'm looking at doing something on a cost-recovery basis."

Democrat Scott Matheson Jr. criticized Huntsman's proposal and the way he announced it a month ago without buy-in from local and state officials.

"I just wouldn't approach the issue in the way it has been approached on the other side," said Matheson. "I think if we've got extra dollars we ought to be addressing our crowded classroom situation."

Huntsman said his prison plan was exaggerated in news media reports.

"Don't be too concerned, I'm just talking about a feasibility study," said the Republican. "All I'm saying is before we put another $75 million in capital expenditures into this site we probably ought to complete our growth pattern as it relates to the south end of the [Salt Lake] Valley."

Huntsman says he hasn't backed off his original plan. But the Sept. 27 news release still on his campaign Web site carries the headline, "Huntsman proposes moving prison."

The press release calls a feasibility study "the first step" in relocating the facility and its 3,500 inmates.

As they have in past debates, both said they supported increasing pay for teachers.

Monday they also put in a plug for raising wages for thousands of other state workers.

Huntsman said if elected he would impose a "flexible freeze" on hiring of new employees in order to hike pay for those already there.

Matheson said increasing pay for public employees would be a "high priority" in his administration.