INDIANAPOLIS, May 18 (UPI) -- Indiana is turning over prison kitchen operations to a private company that will reduce meal costs by 30 percent -- and save the state $12 million annually.
Gov. Mitch Daniels announced the awarding of a 10-year, $258 million contract to Philadelphia-based ARAMARK Corp., which will reduce the average price of a prison meal from $1.41 to 99 cents, the Indianapolis Star reported.
"You can count on there being competitive sourcing of any activity that looks like a chance to save money for taxpayers," Daniels said, indicating an untold number of state services will be contracted to private firms in the near future.
"I don't use the word 'privatization' because that suggests a bias or a prejudgment to the private side winning. I'm indifferent who wins so long as the taxpayer wins. The taxpayer won big today," Daniels said.
