House Finance subcommittee hears DOC request for $23 million in governor's amended budget

The House Finance Department of Corrections Subcommittee on Feb. 26, 2026 continued review of the Department of Corrections' FY2027 budget and heard officials describe a $23 million increase in the governor's amended request to address payroll and program shortfalls.

Deputy Commissioner April Wilkerson and Kevin Worley, the department's director of administrative services, told the subcommittee that the $23,000,000 consists of about $20,000,000 for institutions and about $3,100,000 for the Division of Health and Rehabilitation Services. Worley said that figure came from reconciling biweekly payrolls, overtime and other personnel costs across 13 institutions and attached health staff, and projecting them through the remainder of the fiscal year.

Wilkerson told the committee the need stems in part from three prior budget reductions the department experienced in FY26: a roughly $6,000,000 decrease tied to an expired letter of agreement (LOA) that had allowed double-overtime premiums for some correctional officers, a $7,500,000 reduction related to closing Spring Creek Correctional Center House 2, and about $350,000 removed for five positions handling inmate mail services. Wilkerson said DOC worked with the governor's office to request supplemental funding and roll two supplemental items into the governor's amended request; CRC contractual increases were already reflected in the governor's request.

Lawmakers pressed for additional breakdowns. Representative Holland asked for totals and percentages showing how much of personnel services go to overtime, retention or hiring bonuses and premium pay; Wilkerson said DOC will provide detailed figures to the committee and indicated those figures are being shared through the Office of Management and Budget and legislative finance workstreams. Worley reiterated the $23,000,000 total and the method used to derive it from payroll and overtime reconciliation.

Committee members asked about apparent reductions in specific line items and whether the subcommittee book's presentation reflects the governor's request or earlier bases. Wilkerson and Worley explained the subcommittee book may show reductions taken to the FY26 budget that are then partially addressed by the governor's amended request; Worley said the differences explain apparent decreases in some population-management lines.

Commissioner Jen Winkleman framed DOC policy goals around three principles: prioritizing staff health and well-being, ensuring people in DOC custody leave better than when they arrived, and recognizing the manual, on-site nature of corrections work that complicates recruitment and retention. Winkleman said DOC's wellness unit, established in 2024, has provided services to more than 400 staff and has been used to follow up on critical incidents.

The subcommittee did not take a formal vote on any budget amendment at this meeting. Chair Representative Hannon closed by announcing the subcommittee's closeout meeting for Tuesday, March 3 at 9 a.m. in Room 124 and reminding members that the amendment deadline is Monday, March 2 at noon.

Next steps: DOC will provide the committee a detailed breakdown of overtime, premium pay and bonus expenditures and additional cost comparisons requested by legislators.