MI- Michigan lawmakers approve state corrections budget with significant cuts to per prisoner expenses

9-28-2009 Michigan:

LANSING -- One of the biggest budgets, for the Michigan Department of Corrections, proved to be one the easiest to resolve as lawmakers work to fashion an overall spending agreement for state government with just three days left before the Oct. 1 start of the 2010 fiscal year.

House and Senate negotiators Sunday agreed to reduce prison expenditures by $42.7 million less than Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s recommendation by requiring department officials to find $841 in cost savings per prisoner. How reductions in health care, transportation, education, food services and other programs are reached will be up to department officials to figure out.

“They ought to be able to come up with some cost savings,” said Sen. Alan Cropsey, R-DeWitt, a member of the House-Senate conference committee on corrections. “If the governor can’t bring down the cost per prisoner, she’s failing the taxpayers of Michigan.”

The budget, $98 million below current-year spending levels, is based on an inmate population of 45,433 and reflects Granholm’s strategy to accelerate the parole of about 3,500 inmates who have served 120 percent of their minimum sentences. Savings occur through the closing of three prisons in Muskegon, Standish and Kincheloe and five minimum security camps.

The spending cut is about $40 million less than the target reached Sept. 16 by House Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford Township, and Senate Majority Leader Michael Bishop, R-Rochester. Sen. Alma Wheeler Smith, D-South Lyon, said those additional savings were predicated on reducing the time felons spend in prison by changing state sentencing laws, a move Senate Republicans opposed. Cropsey said the $40 million will made up by using federal economic stimulus dollars.

In another budget produced by conference committee Sunday, lawmakers slashed state aid to local libraries from $10 million to $6 million, a 40 percent cut.

More stimulus money may be tapped if lawmakers can’t approve cuts in more contentious budgets that have yet to be agreed to in committee, or voted on in the House and Senate.

Negotiators Sunday failed to reach agreement on cuts that slice state revenue sharing aid to local governments by 13 percent, or $163 million, and reduce Medicaid reimbursement rates to physicians, hospitals and nursing homes by as much as 12 percent.

Dillon is expected Tuesday to unveil a revenue package that would mitigate those cuts and others that have drawn criticism from Granholm and fellow House Democrats, including the elimination of the $140 million Michigan Promise college scholarship program. Sen. Mike Prusi, D-Ishpeming, said Sunday he’s been briefed on what that revenue package could contain, but declined to provide details.

Cropsey said his Senate GOP caucus was “adamant” the budget be balanced with existing revenue only. “I don’t see any votes for tax or fee increases.”

AboutTuesday, when lawmakers will have just two days to complete a budget or pass a stopgap one-month spending measure, Smith said, “I think (Republican) rhetoric will change when reality hits.” ..Source.. by Peter Luke