There were two big economic announcements in Delaware County this week.
Three, actually.
First, County Council signed off on a 2019 budget, and they putting a little jingle back in the pockets of taxpayers. That's right. They're cutting taxes. Most residents can count on about $25 bucks.
It's not something that happens every day.
But one of the two new Democrats on County Council says he thinks the county could do even more. And he has an idea why it does not.
You can see Brian Zidek's comments here.
Also this week, the Delaware County Board of Prison Inspectors decided on the future of the George W. Hill Correctional Facility.
It's staying in the hands of a private operator.
After reviewing bids from several private companies, and mulling the idea of bringing the prison back under direct county control, the board awarded a new five-year contract to the firm that has been operating the prison for the past few years, GEO Group Inc.
The deal is worth $264 million, but add in the two, 2-year options and it balloons to nine years and $500 million dollars.
Bottom line? The county lockup will remain the only privately operated prison in Pennsylvania.
As you might guess, that did not sit especially well with opponents of the private prison. They have been badgering the county for months, urging them to dump private operations when the current deal expires at the end of the year.
And they showed up at the prison board meeting toting signs and at minimum asking the board to delay making a decision on a new contract until a much-delayed report from a consultant on prison operations was in hand.
The board rejected their plea and gave a new deal to GEO.
For their part, the private company was saying they were aware of the many problems at the prison and will be taking steps to correct them.
Now it's up the county to make sure they do.
It's on today's editorial page.
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