In 2021, Alabama lawmakers passed legislation and an about $1.2 billion spending plan to build two 4,000-bed prisons and shutter some old facilities.

Three years later, design changes and construction cost increases are expected to eat up more than $1 billion of that funding for just one prison in Elmore County.

State leaders recently told Alabama Daily News their commitment to build the second prison in Escambia County remains. What they don’t have right now is the money.