The planned closure of the Tamms Super Maximum Security Prison is predicted to have a nearly 33-million dollar impact on the region’s economy.Governor Pat Quinn wants to close the state's only super-max prison as a cost saving measure for the Department of Corrections as part of his Fiscal 2013 Budget plan.
A study conducted by the Institute of Government and Public Affairs for the state Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability indicates closing the Tamms prison would result in a combined loss of 338-jobs and more than 11-million dollars in wages. Closing Tamms would also cost Alexander County and the state its share of more than $200,000 in sales tax and $110,000 in income tax annually.
Alexander County’s unemployment rate was 11.6-percent for the month of February.