HELENA – The company that owns Montana’s only private prison has offered $30 million to help solve the state’s budget crisis – if the Bullock administration would extend the company’s contract for another 10 years, MTN News has learned.
The money would come from a fund set aside to help the state buy the privately owned and operated Crossroads Correctional Center near Shelby, after 2019.
The state has been paying into the fund since 1999, as part of its contract with prison owner CoreCivic, but the company controls the fund.
But Bullock, a Democrat, indicated Tuesday he’s not interested in pursuing the option — and that CoreCivic hadn’t presented any specific proposal.