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House committee grills corrections leaders on budget as staffing and health costs rise
Summary
Lawmakers pressed the interim commissioner and finance staff over the Department of Corrections' $244 million operating budget, citing persistent vacancies, heavy overtime, rising health‑care costs and thin margins that limit options for program expansion.
The House Corrections & Institutions Committee spent the morning reviewing the Department of Corrections’ operating budget, with lawmakers focusing on staffing shortfalls, the cost of health services and whether budget projections reflect on‑the‑ground needs.
The interim commissioner of corrections, who said she was filling in for Deputy Commissioner Kristin Calver, told the committee the department’s allotted staff is "just over 1,100," and that while hiring has improved ("214 new hires in 2025"), facility vacancy rates remain elevated. "The overall staff vacancy rate throughout…
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