Little Rock, Arkansas – On Tuesday, representatives of a coalition group that is against the building of a new prison in Franklin County brought their grievances to the state capitol.
The administration of Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and lawmakers were accused by the Franklin County and River Valley Coalition of disregarding their concerns about the proposed 3,000-bed hospital.
“All Arkansans, this is a horrible deal for Arkansas. It will have an impact on every county, every Arkansan, and every budget; it is not only a problem in Franklin County.” Coalition spokesperson Natalie Cadena stated. Therefore, we desire openness and financial responsibility. “What is the source of the funds?”
The administration claims that in order to relieve the overcrowding in Arkansas’s county jails, the prison is badly needed.
State Senator Bryan King, however, declared his intention to present legislation that would essentially halt the development.
King stated that in order to solve the overcrowding problem, he plans to reallocate the funding for the jail renovation and contribute an additional $195 million from the state’s reserve funds.
