The Michigan Department of Corrections says a deal to house prisoners from Pennsylvania will net the state nearly three quarters of a million dollars in revenue.

The Muskegon Chronicle reports on comments from MDOC spokesman Russ Marlan:

“It seems to be percolating and resonating, that we’re losing money,” said Russ Marlan, spokesman for the Michigan Deparment of Corrections. “We’re a little bit smarter than that. We’re not going to get into a deal that costs the state.

“Not only are we preserving jobs, and allowing those people who keep their jobs to continue to buy goods in the Muskegon area, and all the economic impact they have — we’re also making money on the deal,” Marlan said.

Under the deal, announced last week, Pennsylvania will send up to 1,000 prisoners to Muskegon at a cost of $62 per day. It costs the state $59.85 per day to house a prisoner, meaning the state will make a profit of $2.15 per day per prisoner.