BISMARCK - Two consultants say there's not much difference in the cost of remodeling North Dakota's penitentiary and building a new one.
George Camp and Jeff Buck are presenting cost estimates to the an interim legislative committee. It is studying whether to build a new prison.
Camp says the least expensive site for a new prison is near the Bismarck airport. Over 20 years it would cost about $773 million to build and run.
Remodeling and adding to the existing prison in south Bismarck would cost about $778 million over 20 years. Buck says the difference between the two options is "essentially a coin toss."
The consultants will make a final recommendation to the committee in March.
