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IDOC slammed for nonchalant demeanor on cash crunch

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Illinois prison managers say they need more than $420 million or they won’t be able to make it until the summer.

The Illinois Department of Corrections’ Director John Baldwin yesterday told an Illinois Senate panel that he needs $420 million immediately.

* SJ-R…

Several senators were frustrated by the apparent nonchalant demeanor of Baldwin and IDOC chief financial officer Jared Brunk, who did not discuss the money request until a few minutes into their presentation. Lawmakers said the agency has downplayed the severity of the situation.

“This is a budget hearing. If you need that money, I would respectfully suggest that you come here and you advocate for it first thing out of the box,” said state Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon.

State Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, said he had “heard more from the inmates about the need for a supplemental than I have from both of you sitting at this table.” […]

And ahead of an expected meeting on Thursday between Gov. Bruce Rauner and legislative leaders, state Sen. Heather Steans, D-Chicago, questioned why the urgent need for an appropriation was left off the governor’s list of priorities.

“My understanding is that the governor’s going to be having a leaders meeting,” Steans said. “If this is the nature of the situation, I don’t know why that wouldn’t be high that list of items that he was discussing with the leaders. It seems to merit that.”

* Public Radio…

Baldwin didn’t respond directly to the criticism, but said his staff has been “magnificent” at keeping the department going. To manage cash flow, they’ve had to cut back on things toilet paper and cleaning supplies.

Manar told Baldwin he’d heard about the toilet paper — but not from him, which he says is part of the problem.

“I’ve heard more from the inmates about the need for supplemental than I have from both of you sitting at this table,” Manar said.

But state Sen. Dale Righter, a Republican from Mattoon, says Democrats have been aware of the budget problems in the prisons.

“The bill that is necessary to appropriate the money for DOC has been on file. The bottom line is the Democratic majority hasn’t moved it,” Righter said.

* Senate Democrats press release…

High anxiety and frustration is expected among incarcerated criminals. But lately Governor Rauner’s administrators at the Illinois Department of Corrections are living under $420 million worth of pressure and they’re hoping lawmakers will quickly send them more money to operate.

Rauner’s Department of Corrections is unable to effectively operate and dig out of the deficit spending hole created by his drawn-out budget stalemate. IDOC officials say they’ve exhausted efficiency methods, all the way down to rationing of toilet paper available to inmates.

As serious as the situation seems, Senators from both sides of the aisle expressed frustration of IDOC Director John Baldwin’s lack of strong advocacy for the funds.

“If the Department of Corrections is out of money, the Governor has to shout it out,” said Senator Elgie Sims (D-Chicago). “Until today, I’ve really heard nothing about how desperate the situation is. I haven’t heard the governor say, ‘we need help, we need half-a-billion dollars for our prison system.’ Given all he has said about out-of-balance budgets and overspending from legislators, I don’t even know if Governor Rauner has a clue about this situation.”

Part of the challenge the Department of Corrections is facing is paying the obligations that were backlogged under the two-year budget impasse. During that period, spending continued in many agencies, including Corrections. After paying many of these bills, there are insufficient funds available to operate for a full year.

While there exists Republican legislation to help advance Governor Rauner’s request for $1 billion more additional spending, the Governor’s office has taken a quiet approach to exposing the need for a supplemental appropriation.

“In February, the governor’s budget director has used terms like ‘unappropriated liabilities’ instead of being blunt in saying he needs hundreds of millions of dollars more to spend,” said Senator Heather Steans, a top Democratic budget negotiator. “There’s a willingness to work to find a solution, but I wish the administration would stop trying to nuance the need.”

The bottom line is the SDems want Gov. Rauner to make a much more specific public ask for that cash. Your thoughts?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 9:55 am

Comments

Did Illinois voters elect a governor or a department store mannequin?

No evidence of the former, as this story shows, but plenty of photographic evidence of the later: his trademark insipid grin, the day’s costume choice, and whatever human props his staff has staged.

Comment by Moe Berg Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 10:06 am
ah, games. All games. Nobody cares about solving problems, they only care about placing public blame on someone, and that someone needs to be someone else.

Comment by Just Me Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 10:06 am
I’m an ex-inmate. This stuff about IDOC doing so much to manage it’s budget is window dressing. IDOC has been rationing toilet paper and toiletries to inmates for years. IDOC’s budget has been ballooning for the last decade. If they want to do something about it, control the cost of bloated staff who openly brag that they’re there “to collect a paycheck, not earn one.” As for inmate complaints about TP, it’s prison. We all did what we did and get what we deserve.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 10:08 am
–Illinois prison managers say they need more than $420 million or they won’t be able to make it until the summer.–

If this is legit, how in the world are we just hearing about this now?

Rauner is really selling that “not in charge” act.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 10:11 am
$452 million is a huge ask, particularly for prisons, that will require broad public support. It ought to come from the Governor.

He needs to amend his “five” point plan to show where Quincy and prisons fit into his priorities.

Plus whatever else he ain’t telling us.

Comment by Thomas Paine Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 10:17 am
These are the same Senate GOP that didn’t want supplemental for DOC under Quinn.

Comment by Spliff Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 10:25 am
I might be bad at math or missing something obvious, but a quick look at DOC’s budget suggests that in the 285 days this Fiscal Year, they’ve spent $1.04 billion. Or about $3.6m per day, on average. They have unexpended approps of $523m, which at $3.6m would last them 144 days, well beyond the 79 days left in FY2018. That being said, if their unexpended approps are in the wrong places, use 2% or legislative transfers. Why on Earth should they need a supplemental equal to 27% of their budget? None of this makes sense. What am I missing?

Comment by ImNotTaylorSwift Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 10:33 am
I’m a former IDOC employee. I would like More jusifitcation on why that supplemental is needed? The inmate population has dropped by approximately 8,000 inmates, since Rauner came into office in ‘15, which equals about 2-3 prisons.

Comment by Jockey Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 10:35 am
Jockey, because Rauner doesn’t actually have the stomach to close facilities on his own if he can’t pin the blame on Madigan. (He continues to open new ones, even though he likes to blame everyone else for overspending). He has zero interest in managing anything.

Comment by Juice Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 10:38 am
Numbers don’t make sense? Here, in Illinois? That’s unusual.

In a spirit of transparency, it would be useful to conduct a massive citizen audit of this operation. Third party heat is always effective.

We could make a small team to reconcile all vendor payments to expense vouchers, including research of the each vendor.

Might just find a couple of wasted dollars …

Comment by cdog Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 10:42 am
–In a spirit of transparency, it would be useful to conduct a massive citizen audit of this operation.–

What is that?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 10:46 am
as one who supports criminal justice reform the budget shortfall screams reform is needed to limit incarceration for non violent offenders
Last year’s the legislature put into place measures with the support of the governor to reduce the prison population
I would task IDOC to report if these measures are being aggressively implemented as can be

looking at IDOT webpage supplemental good time awarded is only half of what it can be

Comment by anon Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 11:06 am
They do need to explain why the shortfall exists. Is it past bills being paid?

Comment by Last Bull Moose Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 11:09 am
==None of this makes sense. What am I missing?==

You’re looking simply at what they are spending and trying to do a simple analysis. You aren’t taking into account how many backlogged bills they have and for which they don’t have enough appropriation authority to pay for.

==Is it past bills being paid?==

Yes

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 11:37 am
==including research of the each vendor.==

What does that even mean? Research of each vendor? To what end?

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 11:38 am
–In a spirit of transparency, it would be useful to conduct a massive citizen audit of this operation.–

*What is that?*

Buncha fat dudes with green eye shades and adding machines with the time to individually review every payment IDOC made. Should only take 4 or 5 years…

Comment by Shark Sandwich Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 11:41 am
===The bottom line is the SDems want Gov. Rauner to make a much more specific public ask for that cash.===

I don’t blame the SDems.

Rauner has yet to fund his state agencies for a full fiscal year with his signature, and the Rauner Admibustration now needs $420 million… without a formal ask, or Rauner having real skin in the game as the Governor?

Rauner needs it. Rauner should, as a governor, make a public request, from him… to those monies.

Three years is enough.

Governors own. Ask.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 11:47 am
OW = I like the “Rauner Admibustration” reference. Emphasis on “bust”.
Pritzker should use this.

Comment by O Yes Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 12:41 pm
- O Yes -

I wish I could take credit for it…

My phone’s typos are far more snarky than I could be. We’ve talked about, I’ll tell my phone of your approval.

:)

To the Post,

The Administration tray couldn’t point out a single cut to GA committees now requires money, “immediately”… where is the budgetary oversight by the governor, as in one instance, they can’t point o any cuts, in another they need immediate monies, and in a third, this administration is asking for less revenue (lower taxes) as their calling card this cycle.

Huh?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 12:48 pm
==You’re looking simply at what they are spending and trying to do a simple analysis. You aren’t taking into account how many backlogged bills they have and for which they don’t have enough appropriation authority to pay for.==

Fair enough. But if they have more bills to pay than approps with which to pay them, why did they lapse $80m in approps each of the last two fiscal years? Plus, base on my earlier math, they’re on pace to lapse an additional $200m+ this year. That’s not $420m, but it’s not far off.

Comment by ImNotTaylorSwift Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 1:43 pm
I do not think, that the Department or the Governors office realized the true cost of the Federal mental heath lawsuit would cost. Governor Quinn was fighting the “RASHO” lawsuit. Govenor Rauner agreed to the terms almost immediately when he took office.

Comment by Power House Prowler Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 2:44 pm
Let’s not forget dhs is looking for about $100m, but from their testimony it’s mainly doit bills. $100m more to fund this administration’s big accomplishment.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 3:11 pm
==But if they have more bills to pay than approps with which to pay them, why did they lapse $80m in approps each of the last two fiscal years? ==

Most of that lapse was Other State Funds which aren’t what are used to pay normal operating expenses.

You’re attempting a far too simplistic analysis and coming to an erroneous conclusion by doing so.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 4:09 pm
=The bottom line is the SDems want Gov. Rauner to make a much more specific public ask for that cash.=

They want to rub his grinnin’ face right into that big mess he’s been makin’.

Comment by James Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 5:37 pm