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Vermont DOC budget hearing highlights staffing shortfalls, rising overtime and hospital costs
Summary
Interim Commissioner John Murad told the Institutions Committee that DOC’s FY27 budget faces high overtime and vacancy-driven costs: total staffing is roughly $88 million, with regular pay ~ $70 million and facility regular pay ~ $37 million; DOC reported a roughly 12.8% vacancy rate and high facility overtime that it said drives travel and hospital-staffing expenses.
Interim Commissioner John Murad told the Institutions Committee on Feb. 26 that the Vermont Department of Corrections’ FY27 spending requests are driven largely by staffing shortages and overtime costs. "Our total staffing costs [are] just under 88,000,000," Murad said, adding that regular pay is about $70,000,000 and that facility regular pay is just over $37,000,000.
Why it matters: Committee members pressed DOC on how persistent vacancies and overtime affect daily operations and long-term budgeting. DOC said a roughly 12.8% vacancy rate—worse than…
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