After the budget agreement for state agencies was announced, OPEA became concerned with the appropriation for the Department of Corrections and the potential for furloughs.
Agency personnel told OPEA inmate programs not funded through grants were cut and vocational training areas were transitioned to living areas for inmate growth to help balance the budget for the current year. The agency reduced private prison and half-way house rates and closed training facilities. In addition, DOC kept vacancies open and implemented buy-outs and a small reduction-in-force, lowering staff to a dangerous 73 percent.
The FY 2011 budget, which begins July 1, continues the serious funding challenges for DOC. While DOC was only cut by three percent, which was less than some other agencies, the projected population growth of over 700 offenders and other unfunded mandates creates a $45 million budget gap.
To help balance the budget for FY 2011, DOC has implemented furloughs beginning in July, according to the following schedule.
- July through February 2011 8 hours per month
- March 2011 24 hours
- April through June 2011 32 hours per month
DOC has delayed the months with more furlough days until after January in hopes the legislature will pass supplemental funding at the beginning of next session. The legislature has granted DOC a supplemental in nine of the past ten years.
“The legislature needs to realize the cost of corrections and pay the bill at the beginning of the year, not starve the agency until a supplemental can be passed,” said OPEA Executive Director Sterling Zearley. “Furloughing corrections employees is not only unfair to workers and their families, but is also a threat to public safety.”
“OPEA is already talking to legislators about the need to pass the supplemental as soon as possible,” concluded Zearley. “OPEA members should let their legislators know the effect of these furloughs on their families and the dangerous conditions caused by furloughs and staffing vacancies both in the institutions and on the street, with fewer staff hours monitoring offender activities.”
Posted on
Fri, June 18, 2010
by Trish Frazier