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Department of Corrections presents budget plan leaning on vacancies, recruitment to curb overtime
Summary
Commissioner Helen Hanks told the Finance Committee the corrections budget for FY26–27 assumes lower overtime by using salary savings from vacant posts and continued recruitment, while flagging risks if retirements or recruitment shortfalls occur.
The New Hampshire Department of Corrections defended a budget proposal that aims to reduce costly overtime by relying on savings from vacant positions and improved recruitment, Commissioner Helen Hanks said during a Finance - Division I hearing. Hanks and department staff told the committee the agency’s base operating ask is roughly in line with FY24 spending once federal ARPA timing anomalies are removed, but they warned the proposal depends on filling vacant posts and sustaining retention efforts.
Why it matters: Corrections is a major state expenditure and overtime has been a recurring pressure. The department’s approach — pay vacant-position salary lines rather than overtime — is intended to hold down costs, but lawmakers pressed officials on whether the plan is realistic given historic overtime use and recruitment volatility.
Hanks said Department of Corrections fiscal staff adjusted the FY24 numbers to account for ARPA dollars received…
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