2004 Yellow Book
Backward	Forward	Cover	Overview	Agency Summaries	Agency Details

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES (Summary) View Details

		Adjusted Appropriation 2003-04	Executive Request 2004-05	Change	Percent Change

AGENCY SUMMARY
	General Fund	1,886,494,000	1,886,692,000	198,000	0.0%
	Special Revenue-Other	268,000	16,000,000	15,732,000	5,870.1%
	Special Revenue-Federal	31,342,000	36,610,000	5,268,000	16.8%
	Correctional Facilities Capital
	Improvement Fund	205,000,000	205,000,000	0	0.0%
	Internal Service Fund	77,633,000	71,531,000	(6,102,000)	-7.9%
	Enterprise	65,758,000	65,426,000	(332,000)	-0.5%
Total for AGENCY SUMMARY:		2,266,495,000	2,281,259,000	14,764,000	0.7%

ALL FUNDS PERSONNEL BUDGETED FILL LEVELS
Fund	Current 2003-04	Requested 2004-05	Change

General Fund:	29,828	29,620	(208)
All Other Funds:	1,346	1,341	(5)
TOTAL:	31,174	30,961	(213)

Budget Highlights

The Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) is responsible for the operation of 70 correctional facilities and the supervision of an under-custody population of approximately 65,000 inmates who have been sentenced to a term of incarceration which is greater than one year.

The Executive proposes an All Funds appropriation of $2,281,259,000 State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2004-05, which represents an increase of $14,764,000 or 0.7 percent from SFY 2003-04 appropriation levels.

The Department is included in the Public Protection and General Government appropriation bill.

State Operations

The SFY 2003-04 adjusted appropriation includes a recommended deficiency appropriation of $54,500,000 to support unanticipated increases in General Fund spending as follows:

The Health Services Program is augmented by $12,500,000 to accommodate medical non- personal service needs.

The Supervision of Inmates Program is increased by $20,500,000 to support unanticipated staffing needs that were not previously budgeted for. The Supervision of Inmates Program is also increased by an additional $21,500,000 due to unforeseen overtime costs. The Executive contends that such overtime costs are not related to homeland security duties outside of DOCS facilities.

The Executive proposes to decrease General Fund spending by $7,064,000 due to anticipated declines in the under-custody population during in SFY 2004-05. These reductions are comprised of the following:

a reduction of $6,500,000 to reflect reduced need for prison capacity. This savings is achieved in part by the attrition of 194 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) positions from various correctional facilities. Additionally, the Department of Correctional Services has recently announced the closing of three Correctional Facilities in the upcoming 14 months, in accordance with the Department’s inmate population reduction plan. Under the Department’s proposal, the Fulton Work Release prison in Bronx County will close by the end of SFY 2003-04, completing an initiative that began in SFY 2001-02. Also under this proposal, the Mount McGregor Camp in Saratoga County and Camp Pharsalia in Chenango County are to be taken off line by the end of SFY 2004-05. The Executive proposal would offer reassignment to all current employees affected by these closings. Savings related to the closure of the camp at Mt. McGregor and Camp Pharsalia are represented in the above noted $6,500,000 for SFY 2004-05. The Executive estimates that the closure of these two facilities will amount to a total of $11,000,000 in annual savings in subsequent State Fiscal Years.

the closure of the Special Housing Unit (SHU) at the Watertown Correctional Facility, creating a net savings of $300,000. Seven (7) FTE positions would be eliminated by attrition as a result of this action; and

a General Fund savings of $264,000 resulting from a shift of 7 FTE positions to the Employee Mess Account.

These savings are offset by an addition of $6,330,000 in General Fund support for expanded mental health initiatives that are being created in conjunction with the Office of Mental Health (OMH). While details of these initiatives are not yet available, the Executive anticipates that SFY 2004-05 appropriations for this purpose will comprise half of total funds needed. The Executive projects that these new initiatives will ultimately require the allocation of 200 FTEs and approximately $12,000,000 in support annually.

General fund savings are also offset by an increase of $932,000 to reflect the actual cost of continuing current programming and to make other salary and fixed cost adjustments.

The Executive proposes to eliminate through attrition 12 FTE positions in the Correctional Industries Program. These positions are financed through the sale of goods produced by inmates.

In SFY 2004-05 the Executive proposes new appropriations of $15,650,000 for the following initiatives:

$15,000,000 to accept Federal funds for the housing of prisoners awaiting deportation by the Federal Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Under a contracting process, the Federal government would pay the State $30,000 per bed, per year. The Executive anticipates housing approximately 500 deportees in SFY 2004-05.

$500,000 from the sale of foods prepared at the DOCS Cook/Chill facility to local correctional facilities.

$150,000 from leasing contracts for the placement of cellular towers at correctional facilities.

Aid To Localities

The Executive recommends a General Fund Aid to Localities appropriation of $11,400,000 for reimbursement to localities for the care of State-ready inmates and inmates who await coram nobis proceedings. This represents no change from SFY 2003-04.

Capital Projects

The Executive recommends a Capital appropriation of $205,000,000 for the ongoing maintenance and rehabilitation of existing correctional facilities.

Backward	Forward	Cover	Overview	Agency Summaries	Agency Details

New York State Assembly [Welcome] [Reports]