Budget 2010: Corrections

Although the Utah prison population is on the rise, the state corrections system will continue to operate in the coming budget year with relatively unchanged finances.

Department of Corrections executive director Tom Patterson said that after a long period of static population numbers, the current growth rate in the state prison system is about 14 beds a month, and should things continue at that clip, operational capacity will be reached in about nine months. Patterson said financing for a new, 300-bed parole violation center, which remains part of the budget, will help long term with population issues.

In the short term, the 3 percent across-the-board reductions called for Friday by Gov. Gary Herbert will be met with a variety of strategies.

"We'll continue a hiring freeze already in place, tighten the belt on training and travel and we have been given the authority to consider furloughs," Patterson said. "There are some areas where, if we have attrition, we may leave positions open."

— Arthur Raymond