Gov. Andrew Cuomo is proposing to close three New York state prisons and make other cost-cutting moves to close what he says is a multi-billion-dollar budget shortfall caused by a decrease in tax revenues.
The Democrat on Friday issued his revenue re-estimates and amendments to the $175 billion spending plan he released to the Legislature on Jan. 15.
The changes include a plan to this year close three prisons to be chosen after a review by state corrections officials. Cuomo says the state's inmate population has dipped below 47,000, the lowest in 30 years.
"In my first State of the State address eight years ago, I said prisons are not a jobs program. Since then, I am proud to have closed more prisons than any governor in history and at the same time proved that New York can remain the safest large state in the nation. But we must do more,” Governor Cuomo said in a statement. "These new closures are another step toward reversing the era of mass incarceration and recognizing that there are more effective alternatives to lengthy imprisonment."
The governor says the closures won't result in staff layoffs.
“Once again, New York is putting its residents at risk by proposing to close more prisons,” said Michael Powers, President of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, in a statement Friday. This will unquestionably make our prisons more dangerous. It means consolidating the incarcerated into other prisons, making them overpopulated and increasing the risk of violent behavior. Violence at New York’s correctional facilities is already at a historic high.”
The budget revisions come as Cuomo deals with a $2.6 billion revenue reduction he blames on changes Republicans in Congress made to the federal tax code last year.
"As Washington continues their economic civil war by restructuring the economy to benefit red states, we are taking action to maintain a strong financial plan and safeguard New York's fiscal integrity," Cuomo said in a statement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.