ambria Jail Expansion Eases Taxpayers' Burden

POSTED: 1:32 pm EDT September 5, 2007
UPDATED: 1:36 pm EDT September 5, 2007

The Cambria County Jail expansion is paying off big for the county and for taxpayers.

Commissioner P.J. Stevens said the county did not have to raise taxes this year because they anticipate an additional $1.5 million in revenue as a result of a new dormitory in the jail.

The dormitory is used to house minimum security prisoners from Cambria, Indiana, Butler and other counties and generates nearly $52 a day per prisoner.

Stevens said another big revenue factor is illegal immigrants. He said just last week the jail took in 15 immigrants awaiting deportation.

Jail Warden John Prebish said the need to house illegal immigrants is greater than most people realize. However, he said staffing is stretched thin due to guards monitoring the dormitory and transporting other prisoners for hearings. He said six new cadets should relieve some of the pressure.

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