Ohio Prison Director Gary Mohr's Reorganization Plan Saves Taxpayers Millions

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections Director Gary Mohr has been very busy saving taxpayer money this summer. While the outlook is not entirely sunny, it is far less bleak than what it was a year ago. The economic downturn which has impacted the private sector is also causing problems in the public sector. Cutting jobs is never a pleasant option, but you have to look beyond the statistics to get a clear view of the entire scenario. Fiscally responsible practices at Ohio's prison enacted by Mohr save taxpayers more than $20 million.

Prisons for Sale

The sale of five prisons will garner more than $6 million while offering private sector prison jobs for displaced public workers. Bold headlines earlier this year stating 717 jobs will be lost when two correctional facilities are privatized told only a part of the story.

Displaced public employees from the North Central Correctional Institution in Marion County and the Grafton Correctional Institution in Lorain County will get "first dibs" on jobs at the new privately run prisons. According to the Ohio Civil Services Employees Association, Ohio's public prisons pay 85 percent of employee health care expenses.

While private sector jobs require a higher employee contribution for healthcare premiums, the near guarantee of a continued paycheck is something thousands of Ohioans on the unemployment line would be more than grateful to receive. Once the prisons transfer into private hands, local communities will benefit from property and income tax revenue.

Two of the state-run prisons on the auction block are already privately operated. North Coast Correctional Treatment Facility and the Lake Erie Correctional Institution are already staffed by private sector employees. The Marion Juvenile Correctional Facility is currently vacant. Once purchase bids are approved, the facilities will become privately owned commercial real estate and taxable. Funds generated through taxes will aid local governments struggling to fund public services. An increase in foreclosures and property tax delinquencies around the state mean there are fewer dollars to fulfill the needs of existing levies.

Job Abolishment

The ODRC announced the elimination of 400 prison jobs this week. Union leaders and liberal lawmakers prefer to focus on just the numeric figure and tragedy of more Ohioans joining the ranks of the unemployed. There is no way to sugar-coat the fact that some folks will soon be without a paycheck, but the true job loss figure is nowhere near headline-making 400 people.

Mohr's reorganization and job abolishment plan includes eliminating a multitude of positions which have gone unfilled. Balancing Ohio's budget and reducing the nearly $8 billion debt means cutting taxpayer funded expenses. The business growth already achieved by the Kasich administration puts the Buckeye State on the right track, but increased tax revenue from new and expanded businesses simply will not occur overnight.

Consolidating four correctional centers into two will result in 27 lost jobs and a savings of $6 million over the course of the next two years. A reduction in office staff at Ohio's prisons will create $3.8 million in savings. A decrease in educational staff will result in $3.1 million in savings.

Fiscally Responsible Policy Changes

Changing the way Ohio's prison operate on a daily basis will also garner significant savings for taxpayers. By eliminating flavored beverages and altering the meal cycle of inmates the prison system will save $4 million. Contracting with private vendors for some health services will generate a savings of $3 million. Reducing some dental services and reorganizing mental health offerings garners $10.2 million in taxpayer savings.