The union that represents the largest group of state employees has issued a response to budget cutting maneuvers by the Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC). Iowa’s prison system was ordered to trim $5.5 million from its budget after Governor Branstad signed a measure that slashes more than $100 million from the current state budget to deal with lower-than-expected state tax revenue.

On Wednesday, the DOC announced plans to shut down programs tied to prison operations in Anamosa, Clarinda, Fort Madison, and Sheldon. Corrections director Jerry Bartruff said the cuts would result in “an estimated reduction in staff positions of three-percent.” AFSCME Iowa Council 61 President Danny Homan issued a statement on Thursday saying it’s unclear exactly how many layoffs there will be, but he knows eight probationary correctional officers from Fort Madison and nine officers from the Iowa State Penitentiary have already been terminated. He fears “there may be many more.” Homan says the Branstad administration has decided to “balance a failed budget on the backs of public employees.”  (Radio Iowa)
……………..
FULL PRESS RELEASE FROM AFSCME:

DES MOINES – AFSCME Iowa Council 61 President Danny Homan issued the following statement in response to the facility closures and Correctional Officer layoffs announced by the Iowa Department of Corrections:

“It’s a scary time for correctional employees across Iowa. The Iowa Department of Corrections informed us that they would be laying off a number of probationary Correctional Officers, though it is unclear exactly how many that will be. Eight officers from Fort Madison and nine officers from the Iowa State Penitentiary have already been terminated, though I fear there may be many more. DOC also announced plans to close down the Luster Heights Camp at Harper’s Ferry, the Lodge at Clarinda, the John Bennett Unit at Fort Madison, and the Residential Treatment Services at the Sheldon Community Based Corrections facility. Contrary to the Department’s statement, this was not done collaboratively; it was an arbitrary announcement. AFSCME wasn’t notified of these actions until after they were put in place.

“At a time when our prisons are severely understaffed, this is the last place that the State of Iowa needs to be cutting corners. Branstad and Reynolds have given away our state’s massive surplus in the form of tax credits and giveaways to big businesses while underfunding public services. When the budget disaster they created came back to bite them, rather than borrowing from the maxed-out rainy day fund or ending some tax cuts, they decided to balance their failed budget on the backs of public employees. These layoffs and closures are completely avoidable under responsible leadership, but unfortunately that’s something we’re lacking. I invite Governor Branstad and soon-to-be Governor Reynolds to spend a day in an understaffed prison; maybe then they’ll reconsider where cuts should be made.”