AUGUSTA — Prospects of building a privately run prison in the depressed town of Milo appear to be gaining momentum with a new administration in control in the State House.

A bill’s been submitted to authorize a privately run prison, and Republican Gov. Paul LePage says he’d be open to allowing a private-sector prison come to Maine, build a facility, pay taxes and house other states’ prisoners.

Milo Town Manager Jeff Gahagan acknowledges the proposal is controversial, but he feels the new leadership in Augusta will look upon the prison proposal as an economic opportunity. Gahagan says discussions with Corrections Corporation of America have moved into a more active phase and he’d like to get the proposal on a faster track.


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