The Board of Corrections met Friday, January 15th, at the Lexington Assessment and Reception Center.
Warden Eric Franklin gave the opening remarks, and encouraged the Board to keep employees in their thoughts during these tough economic times.
Director Justin Jones painted a very bleak financial picture for the department. Jones noted that the FY-10 budget was a stand-still budget of $503 million; however, that is not a fair assessment, because the department had to adjust off about $15 million for salaries and benefits that were not funded. “We are down to operating with 78% of our allotted FTE,” Jones said.
Jones informed the Board that beginning in March the agency will furlough employees. Those making more than $50,000 a year will be furloughed 12 days and employees making less than $50,000 will be furloughed 10 days. “You can not furlough your way out of this situation,” Jones said.
Jones also told the Board that if the cuts continue in to FY-11 the agency will have to layoff of 459 immediately. “It will get into security,” Jones told the Board.
Jones and the Board commended the employees for all they do to protect the public and the offenders.
Board member Matthew McBee took and opportunity to plead with the Governor and the legislature to provide relief to the agency. He encouraged reform in the area of sentencing, stating, “We can not continue incarcerating people we are mad at not just the folks we are afraid of.” Another Board member, Robert Raney, said: “There will be reform at the end of a judicial order. We cannot do more with less forever. Money will not solve all of the problems, Reform will,” he stated.
OPEA continues to monitor the situation and is working to ensure that the agency does not have to take the drastic measures Jones outlined.
Posted on
Wed, January 20, 2010
by Mark Beutler