 Black said their agenda was to inform the board and ask for a
resolution of support for the employees of Logan Correctional
Center.He shared the following information:
The prison was established in Logan County in 1978. Since that
time the facility has established itself within the community
through employees, with their families growing up here, and by
paying taxes into the county. The corrections employees have a big
impact on the communities in the county.
Currently there are 327 employees and a daily average of 1,883
prisoners.
The Department of Corrections claims that they can save money by
reducing staff and inmates at Logan Correctional Center. The plan
now is to cut 116 jobs, union and nonunion, representing $6,264,000
of taxable income. This does not take into account the impact of
families leaving the school systems and houses being on the market,
sitting empty.
Black recalled that it was not too long ago when they came before
the city and county asking for support in urging the state to hire
more staff for the facility because of the overtime being required
of the employees and the high ratio of inmates to staff.
The statewide average of costs per inmate is $23,394 per year;
the Logan Correctional Center average is $17,732 per year, he said.
Gov. Quinn is now prepared to make drastic cuts to employees at
Logan Correctional Center. The governor is working with the director
of the Department of Corrections, Michael Randle, to restructure the
department. Part of the restructuring includes releasing 6,000
inmates who have not served out their sentence.
The union holds that releasing people early will not solve
problems. Cuts to services would have a great impact on Lincoln and
Logan County's economy and the safety of its citizens. The economic
impact of these cuts will only further open the wound left by the
closing of Lincoln Developmental Center. Economically, Lincoln and
Logan County cannot afford to take another hit.
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Quinn spoke to a member of AFSCME 2073 when he was running for
lieutenant governor when LDC was facing closure. "I will not forget
the people of Lincoln and Logan County," he said.
With the new budget, Quinn was given $1 billion to move around as
he so chooses.
The governor has threatened these cuts without asking for any
concessions from the union.
Black said:
We must act now to
avoid an economic crisis and a public safety crisis. We urge you to
call your legislators and the governor.
Tell them that
releasing inmates early is not in your best interest.
Let them know that
laying off staff at Logan Correctional Center will have a
devastating impact on our economy.
Board members indicated interest in the situation and that they
would support the workers. A resolution could be developed and a
letter sent to legislators next month.
Black also suggested that the county board ask the Department of
Corrections for a walk-through of the facility and that board
members contact legislators.
[By
JAN YOUNGQUIST]
 |
