WASILLA -- It's likely going to cost between $5 million and $25 million more to operate Goose Creek Correctional Center at Point MacKenzie than it will to house those prisoners outside, Corrections Commissioner Joe Schmidt told a group of Wasilla businessmen and women this week.
Schmidt said he tries to stay away from discussions about the cost of running prisons and how many jobs it will add to the community. He doesn't advocate for it as an economic development tool.
"I don't think it's my job to build more jails," he said.
But he told the businessmen and women at the Tuesday Wasilla Chamber of Commerce meeting economic benefits would definitely come from having the prison in Alaska instead Outside. About 900 Alaska prisoners are currently jailed at a private prison in Hudson, Colo., owned by The GEO Group Inc.
"It's going to cost the state more dollars, but we're putting that back into this community," Schmidt said.
In other words, the money pays Alaskans' salaries and will be spent mostly in-state instead of paying wages and benefits for Colorado workers who aren't likely to spend money in Alaska.
The Mat-Su Borough, in partnership with the state, is building a 1,536-bed medium-security prison on Alsop Road near Point MacKenzie. The prison is expected to be open in 2012.
Schmidt likened the setup to a city within a city. He said prisoners would "be expected to function just as we function," meaning they will get up at a certain time, get breakfast at a cafeteria, go to work and return to their cell on schedule.
Chamber member Bert Hall asked Schmidt what he thinks the area around the prison might look like in five or more years.
Schmidt said prison workers will likely move near the prison despite its location about 30 miles south of Wasilla. He said the growth pattern might be similar to what happened around Cañon City, Colo., where homes, gas stations and stores followed the construction of a prison several years ago. Today the area is home to nine state and four federal prisons. It's also a popular spot for rock climbing and white water rafting.
"It looks kind of like Wasilla," Schmidt said.
He added that the utilities extended to reach the prison, including sewer and water service, are all oversized to accommodate business and residential development in the area.
"What we're depending on is people kind of moving there," he said, adding that when he oversaw the Point MacKenzie Correctional Farm prior to his appointment as Corrections Commissioner, his drive to work was about 10 miles shorter than it is to his office in Anchorage.
People in the audience had concerns about the new 1,536-bed facility going in south of the city.
Several asked questions about where prisoners would be released when their sentence ends and what kind of treatment programs the state offers.
Schmidt said prisoners are released in the community where they committed a crime. And alcohol and substance abuse treatment options for prisoners are expanding, he said.
The department is working on a program to serve 1,000 offenders this year, he said. If the program works, it might be expanded.
Schmidt backed off from endorsing the M/V Susitna, the Mat-Su Borough ferry, which the borough plans to begin using next year between Anchorage and Port MacKenzie, along with other routes.
"We have pretty carefully stayed out of the ferry debate," Schmidt said. "I think it might be helpful to get staff out there."
Find Rindi White online at adn.com/contact/rwhite or call 907-352-6709.
By RINDI WHITE
rwhite@adn.com