Published: August 17, 2008 11:28 pm      

Cambria County Prison on track to make $2.52M in revenue

EBENSBURG – Illegal immigrants and federal prisoners aren’t just filling cells at the Cambria County Prison. They’re also boosting county coffers as officials look to minimize the impact to taxpayers of operating a prison.

Cambria’s 2008 budget projects revenues at $2.52 million, a level last seen eight years ago.

Warden John Prebish told the county prison board last week that the prison is on target for bringing in that much cash.

But even that amount wouldn’t be enough to offset the $6.5 million cost of operations – a figure that includes neither the debt-service payment nor employee benefits, which could add $2.5 million to the total, said Mike Gelles, Cambria’s finance director.

As of July 31, revenues totaled $1.197 million from housing inmates from other counties, the illegal immigrants and federal prisoners, he said.

Not included in that total are other revenues, including;

– $89,000 from telephone fees on calls made by inmates.

– $44,000 for Cambria’s guards making federal transports and $5,400 for transports to magistrates’ hearings.

– $12,800 from other counties and the federal prison system for their guards to attend the training classes held periodically by prison staff.

“We’re making two trips a week, with one or two vans, to pick up the illegal immigrants in Pittsburgh,” Prebish said. “They stay here for a couple of days to a couple of months until federal Immigration moves them to York for deportation.”

The number of illegal immigrants fluctuates, but Prebish said it has gone as high as 150 after a recent roundup in West Virginia.

Federal authorities pay Cambria $51.53 a day for each inmate housed here.

Counties are charged $45, though that may be increased, he said.

The 60-bed dormitory addition that was opened last summer has made it possible for Cambria to have more open beds.

The construction, funded with $574,000 from unused capital funds, is paying off, President Commissioner P.J. Stevens said, offering additional revenues and tax relief for years to come.

Prebish said as many as 520 prisoners can be housed by setting up temporary beds in the gymnasium. As of mid-week, the census totaled 436. Of the 436, 43 were U.S. Marshal prisoners, and 63 were from the Immigration and Customs Service.

Prebish anticipates that the feds will continue to use Cambria’s prison.

“The need is there for the beds. They’re happy with our facility, and the transports we do make us unique,” he said.



Revenue breakdown

Cambria County Prison revenues are expected to reach $2.52 million this year.

Revenues from housing inmates from other counties, federal prisoners and illegal immigrants, as of July 31:

Butler County: $540

Elk County: 3,240

Federal Bureau of Prisons: 1,648

Huntingdon County: 46,935

Indiana County: 141,390

Immigration: 616,092

Oneida Indian Nation: 5,785

U.S. Marshal Service: 381,373

Total: $1.2 million



Revenues

2000: $2.52 million

2001: $2.42 million

2003: $1.79 million

2004: $1.35 million

2005: $719,000

2006: $698,000

2007: $1.57 million