 Since he unveiled his budget for the current fiscal year last week,
Quinn has been vague about what he intends to cut from the
Department of Corrections.But this week he said he'd look at
vehicle costs as part of an effort to find "efficiencies."
"There will be negotiations with the union and others who work
there, and there may be room for economies that do not (have) any
effect on public safety," said Quinn.
The governor issued general orders to all state agencies to cut
travel for workers, fleet vehicles costs and other smaller cost
savings. Quinn's spending plan lops $1.4 billion from the state
budget, though specifics for each agency are still hard to come by.
The governor did appear to leave the door open to hiring new
prison guards so the state can save on skyrocketing overtime costs.
"In some ways that's a way to economize. There's been a large
amount of overtime in that agency and some others, and we tried to
reduce that because it can save the taxpayers money," said Quinn.
Illinois has been spending millions on overtime for prison
guards. In 2007 the extra shifts cost the state $20 million. By 2009
that cost jumped to as much as $68 million.
State Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, said for that much
money, the state could and should hire new guards.
"The overtime costs are just astronomical. ... And like I said,
the good thing about it is you are creating jobs while saving
money."
Phelps insists hiring new guards would also be safer. The union
that represents most of Illinois' prison workers, AFSCME, has said
for years that staffing levels in the state's prisons are dangerous.
Quinn did not commit to hiring new guards, or any other specific
cuts at DOC. But state Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, said there might
not be many other choices.
"I think anything we do from now on is going to be a tough choice
to cut. ... And if you cut anything else, you're going to have to go
to the employees. And Corrections, as far as I'm concerned, is
understaffed now," Forby said.
[to top of second column] |
Phelps said the only other option is "unacceptable."
"I hope he doesn't cut or close down any state facility ...
especially in southern Illinois, because that is our industry," he
said.
Forby said there's too little for a lot of folks south of
Interstate 70. And he knows there would be interest in any new jobs
at the prisons.
"These jobs are good-paying jobs. In my district the unemployment
in one of my counties is 15 percent; in the rest of them are 11 or
12 percent," he said.
Corrections officials have said they are working on finding ways
to trim the budget, but they have offered neither specifics nor a
timeline.
Quinn is also not saying when the budget cuts will come. He
instead continues to say he will "manage" the budget throughout the
year. Lawmakers this year chose not to make significant cuts, opting
instead to give Quinn sweeping powers to cut from agencies and
programs as he sees fit.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By BENJAMIN YOUNT]
 |
