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Quinn Says Corrections Budget Will Be Cut
Gov. Pat Quinn is promising to cut almost $42 million from the Department of Corrections, without layoffs.

The governor says it can be done by reducing overtime, which ballooned from $20 million in 2008 to $68 million in 2009. "I believe that we’ll be able, through efficient deployment of personnel, to reduce the overtime costs in the agency," he said. "It won't be easy, but it'll be a basic mission."

AFSCME, the union that represents prison guards, says it would be cheaper if the state hired more guards.

State Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington), the Republican candidate for governor, says the Department of Corrections has too many politically connected middle managers, and too few front-line workers.

The overall Corrections budget is $1.1 billion.

Meanwhile, threatened budget cuts of $32 million at the state police, which would have resulted in the layoff of 460 troopers and the closing of five district headquarters, have been prevented. The governor has signed S.B. 3695, which adds fees of $1 to $15 to any conviction. That will raise $23 million for the state police.

(Illinois Radio Network)
08 02 10 by Newsroom
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