(Indianapolis, IN) - Plans to construct a new prison in Westville have come in way over-budget.

 

The State Budget Committee learned in December the projected cost of demolition and constructing a new prison at the site had increased from $400 million to $1.2 billion.

 

State Representative Jim Pressel of Rolling Prairie said he hopes a new prison is redesigned to bring the cost closer to the original estimate.  Pressel said there’s a need for a new prison but he’d feel more comfortable about supporting a cost of about $600 million.

 

“My hope is that we find some common ground, get some more dollars in there and send it back out to see where we can save dollars,” he said.

 

Originally, the prison was built in 1951 to house mental health patients.

Pressel said the cost of repairs might not be worth renovating the facility.

 

“It needs a lot of work.  It’s to the point where we’re going to put a lot of money into it to repair it or we’re going to something that’s new and really up to date.  I think the option for me is let’s take a look and see how do we get a new facility there,” he said.

 

Indications are the state legislature might be willing to pay the extra cost as it’s currently projected because the governor last month included an $800 million appropriation for the prison project in his 2024-25 state budget proposal to supplement the expense.

 

Pressel said a decision by the Indiana House of Representatives should come within the next two weeks.