The Allegheny County commissioners, in their latest effort to cut costs, want to determine whether they can save money by hiring a private company to run the problem-laden jail. Commissioners Robert Cranmer and Larry Dunn are asking for qualifications and information from companies interested in managing the jail or in providing food, laundry or medical services to the prisoners.
Let's Make a Deal
As it stands now, county employess now run and maintain the jail. Private companies provide medical services and some food perparation, but according to Budget Director Rowan Miranda, the county wants to see whether it can better deal. Cranmer and Dunn plan to hire companies to manage the county's car fleet and perform the monumental task of reassessing all 570,000 parcels of residential, commerical and industrial land after a five-year halt on assessments ends in January 2001.Savings and Load
Miranda estimated that the county may be able to save up to $2.5 million a year by getting a better deal on jail medical services and food preparation and by hiring a company to do laundry, which is currently done by inmates supervised by county-employed managers.Visit the OnTV Bulletin Archive.
