danielle
09-16-2003, 03:18 AM
Rutledge Prison survives first cuts
Prison officials say more cuts could close site
BY JIM HOUSTON
Staff Writer
Rutledge State Prison has survived the initial cuts that trimmed $110 million from the Georgia Department of Corrections budgets during the last 18 months, but if additional cuts are required, the 582-bed prison will have to close its doors, prison officials said Monday.
The jobs of most of the 164 prison workers and about 30 medical and mental health workers at Rutledge would be lost if closure is ordered.
Assistant to the Commissioner Brian Owens said the corrections department already has ordered Putnam State Prison in Eatonton and diversion centers in Cobb County and Savannah to shut down in order to meet budget targets. The Putnam County facility, with about 100 beds, was the state's smallest and the two diversion centers each accommodated about 50 probationers on work-release.
Owens said the prison and diversion centers were casualties of the economy that has forced major cuts since the $957 million departmental budget was set for the 2003 fiscal year. The 2004 budget of $916 million now has been ordered cut by 2.5 percent, with the 2005 budget to be slashed another 5 percent. Proposals meeting those required cuts were submitted to Gov. Sonny Perdue last week, with the proposed 2005 budget seeking $847 million, he said.
If more cuts are required, Columbus' Rutledge and Milledgeville's Bostick State Prison will be closed, along with 10 diversion centers, detention centers and boot camps, Owens said.
If Rutledge or other prisons are closed, however, no inmates will be set free, he said.
"We would move them to other locations. No one's getting out as a result of a prison closing," Owens said.
Owens also said that if worse comes to worse and Rutledge is closed, a skeleton-staff will remain on site to maintain the facility and keep it in operating shape so it could be reopened "when funds become available."
But the corrections official stressed that any decisions made concerning closing facilities ultimately must win approval of the Georgia General Assembly, which adopts the budget for the state each year.
Rep. Tom Buck, D-Columbus, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, said Monday he's aware Rutledge is on the fence, but it's "way too early in the game to make any assumptions" about what may happen.
"I can assure you at this point in time we will be looking for anything possible to keep both these facilities open," Buck said, referring to Rutledge as well as West Central Georgia Regional Hospital. The Georgia Department of Human Resources last month recommended closing the mental health facility on Schatulga Road and a similar hospital in Savannah in order to meet budget-cutting requirements.
"Historically, we never know that the governor is going to recommend in his budget until we get up there in January, but we're going to be talking among ourselves about what we are going to do if he makes these cuts," Buck said.
A 4 percent revenue increase last month gives hope that recovery is on the way and that further cuts will not be required, Buck said.
Rep. Gerald Greene, D-Cuthbert, chairman of the House State Institutions and Properties Committee that has oversight of state facilities, said lawmakers have their work cut out for them.
"We cannot allow this area and Columbus to have two facilities closed," said Greene. "These two facilities provide jobs not only to Columbus people, but to people throughout the area."
Rutledge Warden Wendy Thompson said she attended a Thursday evening session in which department officials explained to local prison workers that the facility -- and their jobs -- could be in jeopardy.
Prison officials say more cuts could close site
BY JIM HOUSTON
Staff Writer
Rutledge State Prison has survived the initial cuts that trimmed $110 million from the Georgia Department of Corrections budgets during the last 18 months, but if additional cuts are required, the 582-bed prison will have to close its doors, prison officials said Monday.
The jobs of most of the 164 prison workers and about 30 medical and mental health workers at Rutledge would be lost if closure is ordered.
Assistant to the Commissioner Brian Owens said the corrections department already has ordered Putnam State Prison in Eatonton and diversion centers in Cobb County and Savannah to shut down in order to meet budget targets. The Putnam County facility, with about 100 beds, was the state's smallest and the two diversion centers each accommodated about 50 probationers on work-release.
Owens said the prison and diversion centers were casualties of the economy that has forced major cuts since the $957 million departmental budget was set for the 2003 fiscal year. The 2004 budget of $916 million now has been ordered cut by 2.5 percent, with the 2005 budget to be slashed another 5 percent. Proposals meeting those required cuts were submitted to Gov. Sonny Perdue last week, with the proposed 2005 budget seeking $847 million, he said.
If more cuts are required, Columbus' Rutledge and Milledgeville's Bostick State Prison will be closed, along with 10 diversion centers, detention centers and boot camps, Owens said.
If Rutledge or other prisons are closed, however, no inmates will be set free, he said.
"We would move them to other locations. No one's getting out as a result of a prison closing," Owens said.
Owens also said that if worse comes to worse and Rutledge is closed, a skeleton-staff will remain on site to maintain the facility and keep it in operating shape so it could be reopened "when funds become available."
But the corrections official stressed that any decisions made concerning closing facilities ultimately must win approval of the Georgia General Assembly, which adopts the budget for the state each year.
Rep. Tom Buck, D-Columbus, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, said Monday he's aware Rutledge is on the fence, but it's "way too early in the game to make any assumptions" about what may happen.
"I can assure you at this point in time we will be looking for anything possible to keep both these facilities open," Buck said, referring to Rutledge as well as West Central Georgia Regional Hospital. The Georgia Department of Human Resources last month recommended closing the mental health facility on Schatulga Road and a similar hospital in Savannah in order to meet budget-cutting requirements.
"Historically, we never know that the governor is going to recommend in his budget until we get up there in January, but we're going to be talking among ourselves about what we are going to do if he makes these cuts," Buck said.
A 4 percent revenue increase last month gives hope that recovery is on the way and that further cuts will not be required, Buck said.
Rep. Gerald Greene, D-Cuthbert, chairman of the House State Institutions and Properties Committee that has oversight of state facilities, said lawmakers have their work cut out for them.
"We cannot allow this area and Columbus to have two facilities closed," said Greene. "These two facilities provide jobs not only to Columbus people, but to people throughout the area."
Rutledge Warden Wendy Thompson said she attended a Thursday evening session in which department officials explained to local prison workers that the facility -- and their jobs -- could be in jeopardy.