Associated Press
CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire’s Department of Corrections is seeking $47 million more in the next two-year state budget, mainly to hire more staff and ease overtime burdens on employees.
Department officials said about 74 percent of their costs go to personnel and many employees are facing mental and physical strains from working overtime caused by 65 unfunded positions. The department wants to fund all of those positions and add 85 more in the next biennium, with 81 staffers planned for the new women’s prison and four in information technology. The new prison is scheduled to open in fall 2016.
The request came Monday during a budget hearing that helps the governor begin crafting her own budget, due to the Legislature in February. She has already directed state agencies to reduce their requests.