The new Utah penitentiary is the worst state debacle since Syncrete.
It is now projected to cost 18% to 22% more than the $650 million claimed, have 400 fewer beds and take up to 18 months longer (“Prison: Behind, Pricier, Smaller,” Tribune, April 6).
The state blames the higher labor and material costs partly on competition from other construction projects, including the airport expansion (a foreseeable expense), and partly on the Trump steel tariffs (a wholly unimaginable expense).
In 2014, the cost to maintain the current prison and replace older buildings was estimated at $239 million. Another $150 million to add additional program space brought the total renovation to $389 million in 2014 dollars ($415 million in 2019 dollars).
The prison housed 4,000 inmates in 2014 and the new prison had been planned for 4,000. Now it is scaled down to 3,600 to save $50 million on construction costs. The anticipated inmate overflow no doubt can be handled by unwise parole of repeat offenders and housing some state inmates in county jails – because those methods have worked so well in the past.
As the state is going to have to bond for the higher costs anyway, it might as well add $50 million and build for the 4,000 inmates.
In any event, the additional costs no doubt will be recovered by the economic boom from developing the Draper site – the true driving motive for the prison relocation.
Bill Beecham, Salt Lake City
Robert Kuesterman, West Valley City