Dysfunction within the Department of Juvenile Services runs deeper than just operational handicaps such as low staffing levels and overcrowding.
The department underbudgeted $3.5 million for employee health insurance in fiscal 2008 and would need at least an additional $17 million to make up long-standing deficits incurred in past years, legislative budget analysts reported Monday.
DJS Chief Financial Officer Neil Bergsman said the department plans to cut spending, rein in overtime expenses, re-examine individual cases to find children ready to transfer to less supervised ? and less expensive ? programs, and even slash spending on supplies.
“Ultimately we?re going to need some help,” Bergsman told the Senate Budget and Tax Committee.
“We?re acutely aware of the desire among lawmakers to see the agency forge ahead,” Department of Juvenile Services Secretary-Designee Donald DeVore said. “This is an austere budget in an atmosphere where the agency is being asked to change the status quo.”
DJS is still trying to pay off $14.5 million in past due bills from fiscal 2006 and the current fiscal year, budget analysts said. Most of the extra cost came from an increase in spending on residential programs despite a drop in the number of children referred to those programs. Budget analysts said the use of more expensive programs might have caused the increase.
In an effort to curb spending in the troubled department, the independent Department of Legislative Services recommended cutting $520,000 for evening reporting centers. The centers provide after school and evening supervision for children who do not need 24-hour, secure supervision. Budget analysts said participation in the program “has been disappointing,” sometimes serving only 10 people.
Bergsman told committee members cutting funding for the program would be “the largest mistake you could make,” and said the programis still cheaper than detaining children in a secure facility.
“This is a critical way to keep kids out of trouble between the end of school until bedtime until their [court] date,” he said. “We?re still saving money and, for the kids who are able to participate, we?re improving their chances for success.”
