Senate passes justice systems budget bill

DES MOINES – Iowa senators voted Thursday to cut state funding for justice system functions by $18.4 million next fiscal year, but they held out hope that federal stimulus money could spare some areas.

The Senate voted 31-19 to approve a fiscal 2010 budget bill that directs $515.4 million in general fund proceeds to corrections, public safety, public defense, the Department of Justice, civil rights and indigent defense areas. The overall package represents a 3.5 percent drop from current revised budget levels.

“It's pretty disheartening to have to cut our public safety folks,” said Sen. Tom Hancock, D-Epworth, floor manager of Senate File 475. He said the funding level likely will force employee layoffs, but he added “hopefully, we can stem that off at the pass” with federal stimulus help.

Hancock said the justice systems budget bill was a mix of selective and across-the-board cuts to deal with shrinking state revenues.

Part of the fiscal 2010 reductions were achieved by eliminating the operating budget at a prison farm in Fort Madison, which would save $3.3 million, and cutting $1 million by ending the violator after care program at eight community-based corrections districts.

S.F. 475 also proposes to close the lodge at Clarinda, eliminate violator programs at Mitchellville and Newton prisons, and reduced a county confinement program. The bill orders the state Department of Corrections to operate the 88-bed Luster Heights camp at full capacity.

Also Thursday, the Senate voted 31-19 to approve a $352.4 million transportation appropriations bill for fiscal 2010. The measure, House File 805, is eligible to go to Gov. Chet Culver's desk but was held in the Senate on a procedural move while other pieces of the fiscal 2010 budget get finalized before lawmakers adjourn next week.