During FY 98-99, FDC expanded the number of contracts to 16 and the number of work squads to 18. Contracted Work Squads performed work similar to Public Works and Interagency Community Service Work Squads. New Construction, Renovation and Repair Inmates labored more than 4.8 million hours in new construction, correction of fire safety deficiencies, and repairs and renovations during FY 98-99 on 343 ongoing construction projects throughout the department. The base hourly value is determined from the Wage Summary Report for Employment Services Job Openings for FY 98-99, prepared by the Department of Labor and Employment Security, with benefits for social security, retirement, health and basic life insurance added. Several institutions entered into agreements with their local school boards to provide Community Work Squads to work in support of local schools.
Work is performed at the schools during non-business hours, holidays and weekends.
These projects provide cost savings for taxpayers and, further, well-maintained school facilities and grounds contribute to developing students and staff morale. Loxahatchee Road Prison work on Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office vehicles while participating in the vocational program offered by the sheriff's office. The program provides training in auto body repair, mechanical and electrical repair, inventory, and parts ordering on a computerized system. This program offers marketable skill training to the inmates, a workforce to the sheriff's office, cost savings to taxpayers, and a certificate to the inmates upon completion of the training. This work program results in money saved for governmental agencies and provides additional work opportunities for inmates in construction related areas.