Corrections budget: Tennessee DOC requests salary increases, higher clinical and hepatitis C funding as vacancies persist

The Tennessee Department of Corrections presented its operating and contract cost increases to the Senate State and Local Government Committee on March 1, asking the panel to move its budget to the finance committee. The committee voted to send the budget forward.

The department’s leadership told the committee the agency is focused on recruiting and retention and has taken steps to raise pay and invest in equipment intended to reduce contraband and improve safety. Committee members pressed officials for details on vacancy counts, county jail backlogs and contract oversight.

Why it matters: The budget includes multi-million-dollar increases that affect the department’s ability to staff facilities, provide medical care, and fund contracted treatment and prison beds. Committee approval advances those funding requests to the finance committee and, eventually, the full legislature for consideration.

What committee members heard

- Leadership and staff: The commissioner (identified in testimony as the Department’s commissioner) introduced his budget team, including Landon Ketterlin, deputy director of budget; Valerie Murtha, assistant commissioner for finance; Richard Muckle, chief of staff; Gail Fenkell, assistant commissioner…