State Agencies Struggle to Deal With Budget Cuts

Months of budget cuts are taking their toll on state agencies. The Department of Human services will cut 162 jobs by the end of the year and the Pardon and Parole Board reports that furloughs are delaying the processing of prisoners. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.news9.com/Global/story.asp?S=11523219" target="_self">Budget Cuts May Force Schools to Close, Cut Teaching Jobs</a>

Wednesday, November 18th 2009, 1:37 pm

By: News 9


Staff and Wire Reports

OKLAHOMA CITY – Months of budget cuts are taking their toll on state agencies. The Department of Human services will cut 162 jobs by the end of the year and the Pardon and Parole Board reports that furloughs are delaying the processing of prisoners.

State agencies began taking budget cuts in June as the state's tax collection revenue continued to decline. State leaders say the budget cuts are likely to remain in effect through the end of the fiscal year in June.

DHS to Eliminate Jobs

The Department of Human Services announced this week they will eliminate 70 jobs at the Northern Oklahoma Resource Center in Enid and 92 positions at the Southern Oklahoma Resource Center in Pauls Valley.

The centers are residential facilities for people with mental retardation and offer medical, therapeutic and vocations services.

Employees at the center were offered a buyout including 18 months of insurance, the next longevity payment at their anniversary, a half weeks pay for each year worked or $5,000 and their annual accumulated leave.

Parole Board Furloughs Cause Delays

The 35 Pardon and Parole Board employees have been furloughed 10 hours or one day a month since August.

Parole board executive director Terry Jenks said it's taking longer to process paroles because of the furloughs.

"The work load's the same. We just have less time to do it in, so having a day less each month to do the work, I think it slows things down a little bit," Jenks said.

Jenks said the board hasn't denied anyone parole because of the shortage of work hours, but some inmates are probably waiting in prison extra days.

"The ones they recommend, it takes probably a little bit longer to get that process than it would if we get a normal full work month," Jenks said.

He said the delays could cost the state since it is more expensive to keep an inmate in prison than to supervise someone on parole. If an inmate is released on parole, it costs the state only $2.55, which is a savings to taxpayers of more than $42 a day per inmate

"You're basically paying for personnel costs of the parole officer, office space, those type of things, paperwork," said Jerry Massie, Department of Corrections.

Jenks said if the budget cuts continue the board may be forced to add another furlough day each month.

Governor Brad Henry said Tuesday he is considering calling special session of the state legislature to deal with the budget shortfall and possibly tapping into the $600 million Rainy Day Fund, but there's no guarantee that will solve the problem.

"That's the unfortunate thing. The little bit of money to get us where we can have everyone working a full month is probably nothing compared to the potential costs that it could have by keeping people in prison longer," Jenks said.

The governor said he won't discuss a special session until after December 21 when revenue estimates are released, and public hearings are held on budget reductions.

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Budget Cuts May Force Schools to Close, Cut Teaching Jobs

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