This is a guest opinion column

Do we really want to be known as the first in the United States for the cost of a new prison? An astonishing $1.08 billion to house 4,000 inmates? Why can’t we get any information about this huge project that dwarfs all other tax expenditures? Surely meetings have been held. What about the state’s open meetings law? What does the contract specify?

What will we have when all those dollars are spent? Any progress on meeting federal mandates for overcrowded and inhumane conditions in our statewide prison system? No.

It’s past time to hear from Governor Kay Ivey and other state leaders. Al.com columnist Kyle Whitmire nailed it in his recent opinion piece. Cost estimates for building this prison have skyrocketed. Why? We’re paying the tab. We deserve to know.

While we’re talking about how we stack up against other states, and spending more than $1 billion, let’s look at a few other rankings, according to Al.com and the Alabama Political Reporter.

• Alabama has the highest maternal mortality rate in the country. Those women are dying from pregnancy related problems in large part due to lack of access to health care.
• We have the third worst infant mortality rate, 7.5 deaths for every 1,000 live births.
• They are not the only ones suffering and at risk. We rank 47th in overall health care. The state legislature didn’t expand Medicaid.
• Our 4th grade students rank 39th in reading and 40th in math. Overall, we have to settle for 44th in education. Our low level of education accomplishment has been true for decades.

Legislators gave teachers a measly two percent raise. We’re asking more and more of educators without adequate compensation. These teachers have to drill young children to dodge bullets and help pupils readjust to being in a classroom after covid. No wonder there is a teacher shortage.

So, our overall ranking for education and health is 48th. What will it take to get us to provide a decent education and standard of living for Alabamians?

Prisoners should be housed humanely but we have to have some perspective about the cost to do that. How do we want to spend our money? Let’s hold our elected officials accountable.

Jean Lufkin Bouler is a former education reporter for The Birmingham News and the author of several nonfiction books.