Gov. Pat Quinn says the $165 million from the sale of Thomson Correctional Center to the federal government will pay off bond debt used to build the prison and anything else Illinois lawmakers decide.

Quinn's preference is to use the money to pay down Illinois' massive backlog of unpaid bills.

The Chicago Democrat and other state officials announced Tuesday that the now closed facility will be sold to the federal government. State officials say it will create about 1,100 jobs and federal officials say it will ease overcrowding.

Thomson was built in 2001. Budget troubles kept it from fully opening. It has 1,600 cells but housed fewer than 200 inmates before closing to prepare for a sale.

Quinn's spokeswoman didn't immediately have a further breakdown on what's owed on Thomson.