In his 2013-14 budget, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin not only wants a $166 million base budget for the Division of Corrections -- up $14.4 million from its current budget -- but an extra $26.5 million of supplemental appropriations, much of which would go to pay higher costs caused by overcrowded state prisons.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In his 2013-14 budget, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin not only wants a $166 million base budget for the Division of Corrections -- up $14.4 million from its current budget -- but an extra $26.5 million of supplemental appropriations, much of which would go to pay higher costs caused by overcrowded state prisons.
That includes a supplemental $9 million to help pay costs for inmates who are housed in state regional jails or in federal facilities because the state's prison beds are full.
"We're running out of one-time money," Senate Finance Chairman Roman Prezioso, D-Marion, complained Thursday. "We can't continue doing this."
Overall, at least $14 million of the $26 million requested funding increase is for direct payments to house inmates in regional jails or federal prisons.
"It's really a math equation: looking at the beds we have ... and the growth that is occurring in [inmate] population," Corrections Commissioner Jim Rubenstein told the Senate Finance Committee.
There are 4,684 inmates housed in the division's 10 correctional facilities. On top of that, another 1,718 Corrections inmates are housed in the state's 10 regional jails, and 441 are in the Stephens Correctional Center in McDowell County.
About another 2,500 inmates are in community corrections, probation or parole.
State officials project the backlog of inmates to reach 3,500 by the end of the year, and for the total inmate population to break the 10,000 mark during 2016.
Committee members raised questions Thursday about how long the state can afford its growing prison population.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In his 2013-14 budget, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin not only wants a $166 million base budget for the Division of Corrections -- up $14.4 million from its current budget -- but an extra $26.5 million of supplemental appropriations, much of which would go to pay higher costs caused by overcrowded state prisons.
That includes a supplemental $9 million to help pay costs for inmates who are housed in state regional jails or in federal facilities because the state's prison beds are full.
"We're running out of one-time money," Senate Finance Chairman Roman Prezioso, D-Marion, complained Thursday. "We can't continue doing this."
Overall, at least $14 million of the $26 million requested funding increase is for direct payments to house inmates in regional jails or federal prisons.
"It's really a math equation: looking at the beds we have ... and the growth that is occurring in [inmate] population," Corrections Commissioner Jim Rubenstein told the Senate Finance Committee.
There are 4,684 inmates housed in the division's 10 correctional facilities. On top of that, another 1,718 Corrections inmates are housed in the state's 10 regional jails, and 441 are in the Stephens Correctional Center in McDowell County.
About another 2,500 inmates are in community corrections, probation or parole.
State officials project the backlog of inmates to reach 3,500 by the end of the year, and for the total inmate population to break the 10,000 mark during 2016.
Committee members raised questions Thursday about how long the state can afford its growing prison population.
Rubenstein noted that it costs about $66 a day, or $25,000 a year, to house an inmate in a state correctional facility.
"We've got to figure out a way from keeping so many people from going to prison," said Sen. Doug Facemire, D-Braxton. "It's taking away from our education system. It's taking away from all the things we need to provide to our citizens."
Rubenstein said Corrections is trying to expand community corrections, with the planned opening this year of the Parkersburg Correctional Center, and plans to relocate the Charleston Work Release Center to a larger facility in Charleston's East End.
The budget request also includes $1.5 million to fund an accelerated parole pilot project.
However, Rubenstein said much of the prison overcrowding issue is beyond the scope of the division - because they have to house inmates who are sentenced by judges around the state.
"When we're thrown the court order, we comply with it," he said.
Meanwhile, Senate Judiciary Chairman Corey Palumbo, D-Kanawha, said a priority for Senate Judiciary this session will be to consider alternative sentencing options and other legislative proposals to help relieve the overcrowding problem.
During the 2012-13 budget presentation last week, Tomblin chief of staff Rob Alsop said the governor's office is looking at sentencing alternatives and other options in lieu of funding a new, $200 million state prison, as some legislators have advocated.
Reach Phil Kabler at ph...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1220.
