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| Priority items |
| By ljworld.com |
| Published: 08/26/2009 |
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On a recent visit to the Journal-World, Gov. Mark Parkinson was asked to identify his top priorities to restore funding when the state’s economy and tax revenues start to rebound. The two areas at the top of his list were to rebuild the reserves that give the state a little financial cushion in difficult times and to restore funding to key programs in the Department of Corrections. The House Appropriations Committee is holding hearings in Topeka this week, seeking ways to address an expected state budget deficit. No one on the committee is talking about giving money back to any state agency, but they should listen carefully to corrections officials who warn against further budget cuts. Kansas Secretary of Corrections Roger Werholtz flatly told committee members that further cuts will make both the state’s corrections facilities and the state as a whole less safe. Staffing levels are dangerously low in some facilities, he said, and the elimination of programs to help inmates re-enter society are likely to increase homelessness and repeat offenses by recently released inmates. If budget concerns prompt legislators to consider releasing inmates earlier than scheduled, the problems would only multiply. Many areas of state government — notably education and social services — are feeling the pain of reduced state funding, but, for a pure penny-wise, pound-foolish decision, it’s hard to find a better example than the Department of Corrections. Read More. |
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