Lack of cash for inmate beds; drug courts faulted in budget
BY CHARLIE FRAGO
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Legislators questioned Tuesday why Gov. Mike Beebe’s proposed budget doesn’t fund new prison beds and grants less money for expanding drug courts than community correction officials requested.
Beebe’s proposed budget, released last week, fell about $5.5 million short of the $20 million requested by the Department of Correction to open 448 new beds at the Ouachita River Unit in Malvern by August 2009.
That means those new beds won’t be available, said Correction Department Director Larry Norris.
“Right now, there’s no way in the world to do it,” he told legislators.
Several lawmakers grumbled that their local governments have complained about a rising backlog of state inmates residing in county jails because of a lack of state prison beds.
“Can you give us a bright sign on the horizon?” asked Sen. Ruth Whitaker, R-Cedarville.
Norris said that the backup has grown rapidly this year to about 1,300 inmates in county jails.
Rep. Chris Thyer, D-Jonesboro, after questioning Norris about Beebe’s budget, asked: “Do you remember what a penny off the grocery tax costs?” Beebe’s proposal includes shaving another percentage point off the sales tax on groceries, a move that would eliminate about $30 million from state revenue.
Construction costs for the new beds have been mostly paid, Norris said.
Rep. Tracy Pennartz, D-Fort Smith, said, “Unless we give you that money, we’re just going to leave those beds empty?” “This is depressing,” said Sen. Terry Smith, D-Hot Springs.
Moods didn’t brighten much as lawmakers chewed over a nearly $3 million gap between a Department of Community Correction request to open nine new drug courts and the $202,365 that Beebe proposed for that effort.
“Drug court is the one shining star in rehabilitation that we’ve come up with in years,” said Rep. Jim Medley, R-Fort Smith. “They’re working ... I’m just disappointed.” Community Correction Director G. David Guntharp said he didn’t know why Beebe hadn’t approved more money for expanding drug courts.
Beebe’s office said he remains committed to both opening new beds at Malvern and funding drug courts.
“Both are very important things to us. If the revenue turns out better than the very conservative forecast out there and/or if the Legislature does authorize a rainy-day fund, those are two of the first thing we’re going to look at,” said Matt DeCample, Beebe’s spokesman.
Beebe has proposed reserving much of the state’s surplus, projected at about $300 million, and giving him authority to allocate it to Medicaid, prisons, and other items if state revenue dips.
Copyright 2008 Little Rock Newspapers, Inc.