In our policy brief explaining why the state is facing an estimated budget shortfall, we noted that one contributing factor is the fact that federal pandemic relief money is drying up. The 2025–27 operating budget request from the Department of Corrections provides an example of that.

Corrections is requesting $3.390 billion from the general fund–state (GFS) for 2025–27. That’s an increase of $572.7 million (20.3%) compared to enacted 2023–25 appropriations. Of the increase, $251.7 million is carry-forward level, $123.0 million is maintenance level, and $198.0 million is new policy. (See the box at the bottom of this post for budget and fund terminology.)

The carry-forward level removes $262.3 million in federal pandemic relief funding and swaps in $262.3 million from the GFS. The 2024 supplemental had used $262.3 million from the coronavirus state fiscal recovery fund (federal pandemic relief) in lieu of the GFS for general Corrections spending. The pandemic relief was one-time funding, so the programs it supported in 2023–25 must now be funded with the GFS.

The maintenance level estimated by Corrections includes $46.0 million in 2025–27 and $48.4 million in 2027–29 to incorporate caseload changes as forecasted in June.

New policy requests include:

• $38.0 million in 2025–27 and $77.4 million in 2027–29 to increase the custody relief factor. This generates the funding used to cover for custody staff who are taking leave. According to the request, although the current funded factor is 0.16 per custody post, Corrections “is experiencing need at 0.27 per position.”
• $18.4 million in 2025–27 and $56.1 million in 2027–29 to increase community supervision staffing.
• $31.0 million in 2025–27 and $18.6 million in 2027–29 to replace the current offender management information system.
• $20.5 million in 2025–27 and $20.7 million in 2027–29 to increase staffing to handle compliance with Department of Health regulations.
• $20.8 million in 2025–27 and $19.3 million in 2027–29 for medication and staffing to treat opioid use disorder.

(Previous posts on 2025–27 agency requests are here. Our reports on the projected 2025–27 budget shortfall are here and here.)