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Corrections supplemental includes food, phone, caseload adjustments and program cuts
Summary
JBC presentation said the Department of Corrections’ supplemental would request increases for food at the Pueblo campus and inmate phone costs, technical OIT true-ups, and a mix of caseload reductions and program eliminations, including a virtual reality training program and adjustment to parole insurance payments.
Representative Matt Byrd summarized the Department of Corrections (DOC) supplemental and highlighted several net changes to the current fiscal year appropriation.
Byrd said there is "an increase in general fund that is needed to fund the purchase of food for the Pueblo campus," attributing the request to food inflation. He also said inmate phone-call expenses exceeded forecasts driven by statutory obligations and will require additional general fund to meet those costs.
On caseload adjustments, Byrd described a $2,300,000 general fund reduction because the male prison population forecast was too high and a $1,500,000 general fund reduction for the female prison caseload. He explained the "losing track of the beds" comment referred to accounting during the budget process, not physical beds. Representative Datone asked whether equipment had been purchased for the virtual reality program; Byrd and Representative Sirota said they believed equipment purchases likely had not proceeded far and that program security concerns had hindered implementation.
Byrd said the caucus identified cost-savings opportunities, including a $742,000 annual general fund reduction by folding a proposed staff mentorship program into existing duties and a $427,000 reduction by stopping continued spending on a virtual reality program that experienced technological and security roadblocks. He also cited a one-time reduction of $750,000 general fund in utilities due to historical under-appropriation adjustments and a reduction tied to unused parole insurance payments because another resource could cover that cost.
No formal vote or amendment was recorded in the caucus meeting; Byrd said the DOC supplemental would appear as the department’s single bill on second reading the following day.
