SPRINGFIELD - Gov. Pat Quinn's proposed budget calls for scores of new prison guards to be deployed at facilities across Illinois. At a time when private industry is shedding jobs, that potential increase in employment has drawn positive reviews in Illinois' prison towns. | Outgoing Pontiac mayor honored

In Pontiac, where the maximum-security lockup could see an increase of 31 workers, the governor's proposal was greeted warmly by outgoing Mayor Scott McCoy, who pointed out that just weeks ago, the fate of the prison was up in the air.

The minimum-security prison in East Moline will get eight new workers, which Mayor John Thodos said is a positive sign after years of seeing the prison lose workers because of a hiring freeze imposed by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

"I don't think it's anywhere near enough," Thodos said.

In Vandalia, where the minimum-security prison was once targeted for closure by Blagojevich, Mayor Rick Gottman said it was good news that 10 additional employees could be hired at the prison.

"I'm glad to see Governor Quinn is seeing that there is a need for more workers at the prison," Gottman said.

Other prisons that could see modest increases in workers include those in Centralia, Dwight, Lawrence, Lincoln, Pinckneyville and Taylorville.

Staffing reductions elsewhere

Not all prisons would see increases in staffing levels under Quinn's proposal. The Decatur Women's Correctional Center would see a drop of four workers. Others pegged for decreases include Menard, Tamms and Vienna correctional centers.

There is no change proposed for the status of Thomson Correctional Center, which has sat virtually idle since being built. Local lawmakers are scrambling to try and insert money into the budget to fully open the prison and add workers there.

But even if the overall increase in prison staffers is approved by lawmakers, the total number of employees manning the prisons still will be about 23 percent less than were working at the facilities just eight years ago.

According to figures compiled in May 2001, there were 12,837 workers employed in the state's prisons, home to 43,414 inmates. By November 2008, the number of employees had dropped by nearly 3,000, despite a slight increase in the number of inmates.

The drop in staffing levels during Blagojevich's tenure has led to a five-fold increase in overtime costs. One aim of the proposed budget, which would add a total of 372 workers in the state prison system, is to cut down on added overtime expenses.

Unresolved issues

Lawmakers are working toward a May 31 deadline to have a budget in place. The increase in prison employees is among scores of issues that remain unresolved.

Negotiations, for example, are under way over a plan by Illinois Department of Corrections Director Roger Walker to move guards from 8-hour shifts to 12-hour shifts.

Union officials are fighting that plan, as well as a proposal to balance the budget by using money otherwise set aside for employee pensions.

"This cake is far from baked," said Anders Lindall, spokesman for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union. "We believe they should simply hire new staff to eliminate the rampant overtime."