PONTIAC — State Sen. Dan Rutherford has told the governor he would like to see state-owned properties around Pontiac Correctional Center sold.

In a letter to Gov. Pat Quinn, the Chenoa Republican said he would like to see the warden’s home in a residential area of Pontiac sold along with farm property around the prison and the warden’s cabin on that property. Rutherford said the warden’s home is not occupied by current Warden Guy Pierce.

All of these properties are currently owned by the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Selling the house also would return it to Pontiac city property tax rolls, Rutherford said in the letter.

He said he doesn’t envision the state selling the farm or the cabin, but he would like to see a long-term lease or some sort of public use. The land could be used by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources or leased to not-for-profit organizations such as Pheasants Forever or Ducks Unlimited.

While the sales could make a tiny dent in the state’s billions of dollars of debt, Rutherford said Tuesday that it was a question of policy, not money.

“What I suggested to the Illinois Department of Corrections and the governor’s office is, Should we as a state government provide residences for wardens at these correctional centers?” he said. “By providing homes we are keeping it off the taxpayers’ roll of the local communities.”

IDOC spokeswoman Januari Smith said that there are homes for wardens for eight facilities throughout the state. Except for homes near facilities in Pontiac, Dwight and Vandalia, all homes are being occupied by wardens, she said.

“The Illinois Department of Corrections, like all other state agencies, is faced with unprecedented budget challenges,” Smith said in a statement. “We are considering many options to help close the budget gap. We will take into consideration the recommendations put forth by Sen. Rutherford.”

Rutherford said that he has yet to hear from the governor about this issue, but he expects a response will take some time.