Double Negative

“If you have an offender who is illiterate and has a substance abuse addiction, if all he does is learn to read, when he gets out you are going to have an addict who is literate. By the same token, if all he gets is treatment for his addiction, then you have a former addict who is illiterate.” -- Debbie Roberts, programs director at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, on rehabilitation, in the Houston Chronicle.

Budget Bubble

An examination of more than 750 pages of letters from state agencies shows that Texas services could take a battering if the Legislature slashes the state budget.

With a possible budget shortfall of at least $5 billion, the letters to Gov. Rick Perry are a glimpse at just how difficult writing the next two-year spending plan may be when the legislative session begins in January. Mr. Perry asked each agency to explain how budget cuts of 3 to 5 percent would affect their agencies. The current budget totals $114 billion, and Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander has said it could take another $5 billion just to maintain existing programs and services in the 2004-05 budget.

Ms. Rylander said she'd put her staff on the task of helping Perry find ways to survive financially tough times.

Most Texas governors' budgets have not been given much consideration by lawmakers, but presumptive House Speaker Tom Craddick said Mr. Perry's may be different.

“We need to look at his budget. They've been working on it for quite some time,” said Mr. Craddick, R-Midland.

It’s too soon to say whether budget cuts will be needed, Mr. Craddick said. He also repeated his belief that no new taxes are needed. – Dec. 7 Associated Press article in The Dallas Morning News.

Correctional Correction

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has continued to cut into its correctional officer shortfall thanks to innovative recruiting methods and a soft economy, the director of the agency’s Human Resources Division told the Texas Board of Criminal Justice on Thursday morning.

“All is not bad,” human resources division director Warren Moore told the board during a presentation held at the new Texas Prison Museum. He said TDCJ currently has 23,678 correctional officers on staff out of an authorized total of 26,101, making a shortfall of 2,423 officers. The current numbers are a 166-officer improvement over the shortfall of 2,589 officers TDCJ quoted to the board at its September meeting, and Moore said he expects the numbers to continue to improve.

“That’s really going to fall when we graduate some more (training classes),” he said.

“(The 166-officer increase) may not sound dramatic, but it used to be that we were that many short. Now we're that much ahead.” Moore said the stagnant economy has, in a way, been beneficial for TDCJ, which has seen its correctional officer attrition rate drop from 24.8 percent in the 2001 fiscal year to 21.3 percent this past fiscal year.

“We don't gloat over the fact the economy isn't doing well, but it allows us to market TDCJ,” Moore said. New recruiting methods may also be helpful in cutting into the shortfall.

“We’re trying to market these jobs, and not just run ads on the Internet,” he said. “We’re telling recruiters that you have to sell working here, and we’re stepping up this effort.” -- Huntsville Item article, “Correctional Officer Numbers Getting Better.”

Judgement Day

“If God was here and this was Judgment Day, and the state of Texas was being judged by the way we treat our mentally retarded, mentally ill, mentally disabled and elderly, we would go to hell.” -- Rep. Craig Eiland, making a case for state services in The Brazosport Facts.

DO COUNTIES NEED NEW POWERS TO COPE WITH URBAN SPRAWL? The Texas Legislature’s House Research Organization has put together an 8-page analysis of what supporters as well as opponents say on the topic. A solid analysis that review recent regulatory advances and speculates on the advantages of added land use authority, impact fees and construction codes. It can be found on-line at http://www.capitol. state.tx.us/hrofr/frame9.htm.

GRADING THE COUNTIES: A MANAGEMENT REPORT CARD. We missed this the first time through but a report on the County Auditor’s listserve prompted a careful reading of this examination of county governments across America. Can’t vouch for the accuracy of all the facts, but it’s still a good overview of the difficulties counties face. Published in the February, 2002 issue of Governing Magazine, it can be found at http://governing.com/gpp/gp2intro.htm.

TOP TIPS FROM COUNTY MAGAZINE. This 101-page compilation of the most helpful articles of the past decade include major sections on personnel pointers, management skills, media relations, legislative tips and purchasing guidelines among. Published by TAC and available by contacting Rosalinda Mendez at 800-456-5974.

BORDER BOSS. Historian J. Gilberto Quezada completed his dissertation on the late Manuel B. Bravo, Zapata County Judge in 1937-57. The scholarly work analyzes South Texas bossism. Published by Texas A&M University Press.