IDOC announces budget
reduction plan
In an effort to balance its
budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC)
is eliminating 24 more staff positions. That brings the total number of
positions cut over the past two years to 102.
“We’ve had to make some very
difficult choices since the budget crisis
began,” said IDOC Director Brent Reinke. “But at every stage our focus has
always been on our core mission - protecting the people of the State of
The IDOC plans to cut $3.1
million from the fiscal year (FY), 2011 budget. At least $1 million worth of
savings will result from modifications to the department’s food service program.
Eight of the 24 positions that are being eliminated are food service jobs.
Despite all the cuts, only a
handful of IDOC employees have been laid off. From the start of the economic
downturn, IDOC administrators have left many positions unfilled when an employee
leaves the department.
As a result, almost all of
the employees whose jobs are being eliminated are being given an opportunity to
transfer elsewhere in the department.
“This has been a difficult
process especially for the employees whose jobs have been impacted,” Director
Reinke said. “While almost all of them still have jobs, many of them have
had to take pay cuts and demotions.”
Another way IDOC will balance
its budget in FY 2011 is by continuing employee furloughs. All prison security
staff will be required to take 32 hours of unpaid leave. All other IDOC
employees must take 80 hours for an annual savings of $1.9 million.
While IDOC’s budget is going
down, the size of the inmate population is expected to go up. IDOC’s annual
offender forecast calls for a 4.3 percent increase in FY 2011. But the
department is bracing for an even bigger population increase because of budget
cuts to social service programs provided by the Department of Health and Welfare
and the Office of Drug Policy.
“The fact is there are now a
lot of people who won’t get the mental health or drug treatment they need in the
community and run the risk of ending up in prison,” Director Reinke said.
IDOC employs about 1,500
people, incarcerates about 7,500 inmates and supervises about 13,800
probationers and parolees.