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Sentence to Service faces cuts
Jennifer Brookens — Staff Writer
POSTED: April 2, 2008
FAIRMONT — Law enforcement and the Minnesota Department of Corrections face another fight to keep the resources they have.
“The state is looking at a $1 billion shortfall,” Martin County Sheriff Brad Gerhardt told Martin County commissioners Tuesday. “We’re all going to get hit.”
A program on the chopping block is Sentence to Service in several counties, including Martin.
A recent email received by officials noted that Martin, Jackson/Cottonwood, Fillmore, Olmsted and three Hennepin County Sentence to Service crews may be cut.
“A $600,000 budget cut to the Department of Corrections has already been passed,” Gerhardt said.
Department of Corrections spokeswoman Sheri Burt said the $600,000 would translate to a loss of eight crews.
“These were funded for a number of years with temporary funds,” Burt explained in a recent phone interview. “And we need to do our part for the fiscal situation and what would have the least impact on public safety.”
While the larger counties might be able to pick up the tab for the lost state funds, smaller counties likely will lose their programs completely.
“The worst-case scenario for us is that we would lose one crew leader in Martin County,” Gerhardt said.
Martin County has two Sentence to Service crews.
“This is one of the programs that actually gives back,” said Gerhardt, noting he has contacted state Sen. Julie Rosen and Rep. Bob Gunther about his concerns.
Another area in the Department of Corrections facing cuts involves the reimbursement costs to counties for housing short-term offenders. Originally, a $2.5 million cut was proposed, but it has since been reduced to $1.5 million.
“We were up to about $30 a day for housing their inmates, but now we’re back down again,” Gerhardt said.
Meanwhile, the cost for Martin County to house its inmates in other counties is about $65 per day.
Commissioners have prepared a letter to Gov. Tim Pawlenty about the proposed cuts. Jackson, Cottonwood and Fillmore counties already have sent letters in support of keeping Sentence to Service funding. The board also agreed to send copies of the letter to Commissioner of Corrections Joan Fabian, along with Rosen and Gunther.
In other business, commissioners:
o Approved a bid from Borneke Construction of $21,365 for the sale of a Martin County Highway Department tandem truck.
“The state is looking at a $1 billion shortfall,” Martin County Sheriff Brad Gerhardt told Martin County commissioners Tuesday. “We’re all going to get hit.”
A program on the chopping block is Sentence to Service in several counties, including Martin.
A recent email received by officials noted that Martin, Jackson/Cottonwood, Fillmore, Olmsted and three Hennepin County Sentence to Service crews may be cut.
“A $600,000 budget cut to the Department of Corrections has already been passed,” Gerhardt said.
Department of Corrections spokeswoman Sheri Burt said the $600,000 would translate to a loss of eight crews.
“These were funded for a number of years with temporary funds,” Burt explained in a recent phone interview. “And we need to do our part for the fiscal situation and what would have the least impact on public safety.”
While the larger counties might be able to pick up the tab for the lost state funds, smaller counties likely will lose their programs completely.
“The worst-case scenario for us is that we would lose one crew leader in Martin County,” Gerhardt said.
Martin County has two Sentence to Service crews.
“This is one of the programs that actually gives back,” said Gerhardt, noting he has contacted state Sen. Julie Rosen and Rep. Bob Gunther about his concerns.
Another area in the Department of Corrections facing cuts involves the reimbursement costs to counties for housing short-term offenders. Originally, a $2.5 million cut was proposed, but it has since been reduced to $1.5 million.
“We were up to about $30 a day for housing their inmates, but now we’re back down again,” Gerhardt said.
Meanwhile, the cost for Martin County to house its inmates in other counties is about $65 per day.
Commissioners have prepared a letter to Gov. Tim Pawlenty about the proposed cuts. Jackson, Cottonwood and Fillmore counties already have sent letters in support of keeping Sentence to Service funding. The board also agreed to send copies of the letter to Commissioner of Corrections Joan Fabian, along with Rosen and Gunther.
In other business, commissioners:
o Approved a bid from Borneke Construction of $21,365 for the sale of a Martin County Highway Department tandem truck.
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