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Commissioners say they are drafting letter to DOC as Rockview staffing and future draw scrutiny
Summary
Commissioners said they are preparing a letter and an economic model to convey local concerns about potential changes at the Rockview correctional facility and a nearby boot‑camp facility; the county expects the Department of Corrections to hold public hearings in affected counties.
Centre County commissioners said they are drafting a formal letter to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and preparing an economic analysis to document potential local impacts if the agency changes operations at SCI Rockview and a nearby corrections facility.
Commissioners said the county is assembling an economic model that will estimate job losses and secondary local impacts. At the meeting, a county official characterized the two facilities together as supporting about 892 "high‑paying, union jobs" and noted those payrolls also support local purchases and spin‑off employment in the area.
"We are working on the letter. We've been trying to work on an economic model as to how many not only jobs would be reduced... but there's also all of the purchases that Rockview and [the nearby facility] make for all of their facility needs," one commissioner said, adding the county will coordinate a draft and discuss wording at an upcoming commissioners' workshop.
Commissioners told reporters they had received a phone call from the Department of Corrections indicating the department planned to hold public meetings in the affected counties; staff said the county had not yet received detailed dates, times or locations. Commissioners said state legislators have been in conversation with county leaders and that their participation is "integral to the success of us keeping Rockview" and the nearby facility operating.
When asked whether the county letter would be public, the board said the letter will be made public and would be approved in a future meeting. Commissioners described the matter as ongoing and noted it remains tied to the state budgeting and appropriations process. At the meeting they said they hoped to have a draft available after internal meetings with administrators and staff.
Why it matters: Possible operational changes at the state corrections system could have direct employment, procurement and fiscal impacts in Centre County and neighboring communities, according to county officials. Commissioners said they plan both an economic analysis and public engagement to support their position.
