By Nicholas Clayton
Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Corrections could be forced to eliminate programs and cut staffing if the Legislature can’t pass tax increases to balance the state budget, a spokesman said Wednesday.
Gov. Sam Brownback’s budget director has said that Brownback would most likely cut $400 million from the budget approved by lawmakers for the fiscal year beginning July 1 if they don’t raise taxes to avert a deficit. All agencies would lose 6.2 percent of their state funding, forcing deep cuts at the Department of Corrections, spokesman Adam Pfannenstiel said.
“Business would continue, however, the impact could compromise public safety,” he said.
A spokeswoman for governor’s office said she could not immediately comment.
Legislators were in the 111th day of their annual session, making it the longest in state history and 21 days longer than lawmakers typically schedule. Disagreements among Republicans on taxes fueled doubts that any tax plan can pass.
In that event, the department would look to eliminate drug treatment programs, educational and vocational training, and other initiatives aimed at transitioning prisoners into civilian life, Pfannenstiel said.
Rep. John Rubin, a Shawnee Republican, said such cuts would be “entirely counter-productive.” As chairman of the House Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee, Rubin said he had worked over the years to establish such programs designed to reduce repeat offenses.
“If those programs go away I guarantee there will be a negative hit on public safety,” he said.
Post-release programs to match offenders with jobs and transitional housing also could be cut, Pfannenstiel said. At least 70 vacant corrections officer positions could be eliminated and many probation officers could be laid off as the department could reduce contact to all but the most high-risk cases.
Budget Director Shawn Sullivan has told legislators that corrections officers could be laid off.
The department estimates the changes would transfer about 150 prisoners back into state prisons and the population in the state’s already overcapacity prisons would eventually increase by 500 over the next few years.
With an annual cost of about $24,500 per inmate, Democratic Rep. John Carmichael from Wichita said the changes would increase the department’s financial problems “exponentially.”
Kansas prisons are already over capacity by 143 prisoners and the cuts would likely force the department to contract with other jails to confine the system’s excess offenders, Pfannensteil said. The state had about 9,800 inmates as of Wednesday.