BillysAngel
02-28-2003, 10:55 PM
February 12, 2003
Agency boss addresses cuts
By Mark Passwaters/Staff Writer
Texas Department of Criminal Justice executive director Gary Johnson has spent the past two days in Austin, testifying before several state House and Senate committees about a number of issues, including the increasing prison population and possible cuts to the agency's budget.
"I've testified so far with the Senate Finance Committee, the House Corrections and Appropriations, and the Senate Criminal Justice Committee," he said. "They are are committees we appear before fairly frequently."
The state's prison population, which had become less of an issue over the past several years, returned to the forefront last month with the release of an alarming report by the Criminal Justice Policy Council. That report, which was delivered to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, said TDCJ is getting dangerously close to reaching full capacity. The sudden increase in population has the agency scrambling for options.
"We didn't contemplate having plans to contract out for beds," Johnson said. "But the numbers have changed, and it looks like we're going to have to, sometime later this year or next year ... that's a fairly expensive venture."
Expensive ventures are hardly what legislators want to hear about this session, since the state is facing a $1.8 billion shortfall for the 2003 fiscal year. That tally does not take into account the $9.9 billion shortfall the state faces in the 2004-05 biennium.
"The legislators are in a tough spot," Johnson said. "The comptroller has told them there's a $1.8 billion shortfall for this year, and they've got to make that up quickly."
In an attempt to comply with Gov. Rick Perry's request for each state agency to submit possible budget cuts, TDCJ released an eight-page memo outlining up to $172 million in cutbacks. A number of possible reductions - especially a plan drastically reducing sex offender and drug abuse treatment programs, and massive cutbacks to inmate health care - were submitted with official's reservations.
"In my opinion the impact of eliminating substance abuse treatment programs ... and dramatically reducing funding for similar programs serving parolees and probationers, would achieve short term savings at a far greater longterm cost," Johnson wrote in a letter to Perry and other state leaders. "In combination with the other possible budget reductions impacting education and vocational programs, the cumulative effect may not be limited to increased recidivism."
Johnson said the committees he has testified before have been understanding of the agency's plight. However, he knows the budget axe will cut into the agency's plans.
"Everybody understands the critical nature of our job, and there's an ongoing dialogue about the plan we submitted and possible repercussions. There haven't been any decisions made yet," he said. "I think every legislator has understood the potential impact of some of the cuts ... it's not whether they agree or disagree, it's up to us to explain what the impact will be."
The budget situation has made Johnson's trips to Austin somewhat difficult. However, he said difficulties are to be expected.
"Even when I was the institutional division director, I can assure you, it was never easy (to testify)," he said. "(State agencies) always have to go and justify their needs ... now, these are all difficult options. They're very, very tough choices."
**********************************
diane
Agency boss addresses cuts
By Mark Passwaters/Staff Writer
Texas Department of Criminal Justice executive director Gary Johnson has spent the past two days in Austin, testifying before several state House and Senate committees about a number of issues, including the increasing prison population and possible cuts to the agency's budget.
"I've testified so far with the Senate Finance Committee, the House Corrections and Appropriations, and the Senate Criminal Justice Committee," he said. "They are are committees we appear before fairly frequently."
The state's prison population, which had become less of an issue over the past several years, returned to the forefront last month with the release of an alarming report by the Criminal Justice Policy Council. That report, which was delivered to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, said TDCJ is getting dangerously close to reaching full capacity. The sudden increase in population has the agency scrambling for options.
"We didn't contemplate having plans to contract out for beds," Johnson said. "But the numbers have changed, and it looks like we're going to have to, sometime later this year or next year ... that's a fairly expensive venture."
Expensive ventures are hardly what legislators want to hear about this session, since the state is facing a $1.8 billion shortfall for the 2003 fiscal year. That tally does not take into account the $9.9 billion shortfall the state faces in the 2004-05 biennium.
"The legislators are in a tough spot," Johnson said. "The comptroller has told them there's a $1.8 billion shortfall for this year, and they've got to make that up quickly."
In an attempt to comply with Gov. Rick Perry's request for each state agency to submit possible budget cuts, TDCJ released an eight-page memo outlining up to $172 million in cutbacks. A number of possible reductions - especially a plan drastically reducing sex offender and drug abuse treatment programs, and massive cutbacks to inmate health care - were submitted with official's reservations.
"In my opinion the impact of eliminating substance abuse treatment programs ... and dramatically reducing funding for similar programs serving parolees and probationers, would achieve short term savings at a far greater longterm cost," Johnson wrote in a letter to Perry and other state leaders. "In combination with the other possible budget reductions impacting education and vocational programs, the cumulative effect may not be limited to increased recidivism."
Johnson said the committees he has testified before have been understanding of the agency's plight. However, he knows the budget axe will cut into the agency's plans.
"Everybody understands the critical nature of our job, and there's an ongoing dialogue about the plan we submitted and possible repercussions. There haven't been any decisions made yet," he said. "I think every legislator has understood the potential impact of some of the cuts ... it's not whether they agree or disagree, it's up to us to explain what the impact will be."
The budget situation has made Johnson's trips to Austin somewhat difficult. However, he said difficulties are to be expected.
"Even when I was the institutional division director, I can assure you, it was never easy (to testify)," he said. "(State agencies) always have to go and justify their needs ... now, these are all difficult options. They're very, very tough choices."
**********************************
diane